Chapter 74: Heartache
A Sen and Zheng Sanniang squeezed by the half-open window, pointing at passersby on the street.
"Look, look! That woman walking next to the Kunlun slave—she has green eyes!"
"Where? Where?" Though already a mother, Zheng Sanniang couldn't resist her curiosity. She followed A Sen's pointing finger and gasped softly, "It's true! Green eyes... like a demon!"
"You just don't understand," A Sen said in a superior tone, lecturing Zheng Sanniang like a seasoned expert. "Those people from Dashi just look strange. Ninth Master said some even have red hair—bright red, like the couplets we paste up!" Afraid she wouldn't believe him, he turned to seek Fu Tingyun's support, only to find her sitting absentmindedly against the headboard, hugging a colorful pillow.
"Miss Fu," A Sen ran over, "what's wrong?"
Ever since they had checked into this inn, Miss Fu had seemed unsettled.
"Oh!" Fu Tingyun snapped out of her thoughts and forced a smile. "It's nothing. I was just thinking."
A Sen immediately perked up. "Then is there anything you need me to do?" His bright eyes sparkled with eagerness.
Fu Tingyun couldn't help but laugh. "You just want to go out and play, don't you?"
Caught in his scheme, A Sen grinned sheepishly, but his desire to go out overpowered his embarrassment. With a pleading look, he said, "Miss, why don’t you go out for a stroll? Take me with you. If Ninth Master hears it’s you who wants to go, he’ll definitely agree!"
Fu Tingyun’s face flushed crimson, a mix of shyness and irritation. "What nonsense are you spouting? We just settled in. Ninth Master and the others are busy gathering information about Marquis Yingchuan—how can we go out now? All you ever think about is playing."
Throughout their journey, Fu Tingyun had taught A Sen to read and write, sewn clothes for him, and treated him like both a mother and an elder sister. He revered and adored her. At her scolding, his face turned red, and he bolted for the door. "I’ll go check if Linchun is awake!"
Zheng Sanniang also felt awkward.
A Sen was just a child, yet she had egged him on...
"Miss, I—I’ll go see if Ninth Master needs tea!" she stammered before scurrying out after A Sen.
The room fell silent, and Fu Tingyun’s blush deepened.
He had said... she was his betrothed.
She curled up, burying her face in the slightly scratchy pillow.
Even A Sen had said it.
If Ninth Master hears it’s you who wants to go, he’ll definitely agree.
Whatever she wished for, he always made it happen.
Even things she hadn’t thought of—if he considered them, he would arrange them for her.
Like today, when they checked into this inn.
Instead of staying at the Shanxi Guild Hall, where they had a guide, he had gone out of his way to find the Star Gazer Inn and paid double for a room facing the street... just so she wouldn’t feel too bored while he was away.
Or that time on the streets of Yongjing County. He always walked on her left side... and whenever she bought something, he refused to let her carry it, saying it was too heavy.
Every time the carriage went up or down a slope, he stayed close by its side. The moment she lifted the window curtain, he would ride over and ask if she needed anything...
The more she thought about it, the more such moments came to mind.
He treated her... truly well.Fu Tingyun bit her lip, her face burning hot while her heart pounded like a drum, each beat faster and more suffocating than the last.
What should she do?
The thought flashed through her mind, filling her with shame and remorse. Her entire body felt as if it were being scorched by fire.
She—she was actually thinking about what to do?
This wasn't arranged by parents or matchmakers... No... Even if it were arranged by parents and matchmakers, they shouldn't act like this before marriage... Besides, her parents were still alive! What difference was there between this and a secret liaison... There was nothing more to say... Such thoughts shouldn't even exist...
At this realization, a sharp pain pierced her heart like a needle.
But if... she ignored him... Someone as proud as him would surely ignore her too.
Suddenly, his cold and indifferent gaze surfaced in her mind... Tears welled up uncontrollably.
She didn't like it, didn't like it at all...
Why did Zhao Ling treat her this way?
If only things could be as they were before.
Fu Tingyun wept silently.
She didn't know how much time had passed when someone knocked on the door: "Miss!"
It was A Sen's voice.
Fu Tingyun hastily wiped her tears with the back of her hand and replied softly, "Wait a moment."
A Sen hummed in acknowledgment and waited quietly outside.
Fu Tingyun quickly rose to tidy her appearance.
Her head felt heavy, her eyes red and swollen, barely able to open.
She searched for a handkerchief to wash her face and soothe her eyes, only to find there was no water in the room.
After a moment's thought, she asked A Sen, "What did you need me for?"
"Ninth Master has asked Miss Fu to come over for a discussion," A Sen said cheerfully. "It seems to be about the matter of going to the General Military Headquarters."
This was serious business.
Fu Tingyun took a deep breath and noticed a half-drunk cup of cold tea by her bedside. She picked it up and drained it in one gulp.
The icy tea slid down her throat and settled in her chest, sending a shiver through her. But it also cleared her mind somewhat. Then she went to open the door.
"Miss Fu..." A Sen's smile froze when he saw her state.
"It's nothing!" Fu Tingyun pulled him inside. "I was just feeling a little homesick." Then she instructed him, "Don't tell anyone." She added, "Could you quietly fetch me a basin of cold water? I need to soothe my eyes." Still worried he might mention it to Zhao Ling, she continued, "If Ninth Master sees me like this, he'll feel guilty knowing I came to Zhangye for his sake."
A Sen understood immediately and nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, Miss. I'll fetch the water quietly. No one will know."
Fu Tingyun forced a faint smile and gave him a grateful look.
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The cold cloth pressed against her eyelids made her face slightly pale, but the redness and swelling of her eyes remained glaringly obvious.
Watching A Sen's uneasy expression, Fu Tingyun grew anxious inside.
Zhao Ling had been waiting for a long time. What if he grew impatient and came looking for her... and started questioning her? How would she answer? That would only make things worse!
The best solution would be to apply some makeup.
But she had no cosmetics.
Never mind. Since this was about the trip to the General Military Headquarters, Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao would likely be present too. With others around, Zhao Ling wouldn't be able to question her openly. Once she returned to her room, she could just lock the door and stay inside.
By tomorrow, the swelling should have gone down.
If Zhao Ling asked about it then, she could just pretend not to know.
Having made up her mind, she smoothed her hair and stood up. "Let's go see Ninth Master."
A Sen's gaze lingered on her face for a moment.Fu Tingyun explained, "I have my own plans."
A Sen felt reassured and led Fu Tingyun to Zhao Ling's guest room.
As expected, both Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao were there.
Upon seeing Fu Tingyun enter, the two men adhered to the etiquette of "not looking at what is improper" and did not scrutinize her excessively, standing up to show their respect.
However, Zhao Ling immediately noticed something unusual about Fu Tingyun.
She had clearly been crying!
His expression darkened slightly. "What happened?" he asked without hesitation, disregarding the presence of others.
In the past, Fu Tingyun might have felt embarrassed, but now she only felt sorrow.
She had no desire to discuss her tears and instead asked Zhao Ling, "Didn’t Ninth Master say you had something to discuss with me? What is it?"
Yang Yucheng and Jin Yuanbao had already caught the commotion and glanced at Fu Tingyun’s face, both showing expressions of surprise.
After all, she was a young woman—some matters simply couldn’t be discussed openly in front of others.
Seeing this, Zhao Ling suppressed his anxiety and forced a smile. "Here’s the situation. Apart from Marquis Yingchuan, the General Military Headquarters in Gansu also has a Deputy Commander-in-Chief, a Deputy Commander stationed in Liangzhou, and Commandants overseeing Zhuanglang, Suzhou, Xining, and Zhenfan, as well as a Guerilla General—Mo Yi. Among them, Marquis Yingchuan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lord Liu, and Mo Yi were all dispatched by the Ministry of War, and their families remain in the capital. The Commandants overseeing Xining, Suzhou, and Zhenfan—Lord Hu, Lord Peng, and Lord Chen—were transferred from Yulin Guard, Suide Guard, and Fengxiang Guard, respectively, and their families remain in their hometowns. The Deputy Commander stationed in Liangzhou is Feng Tong, the eldest son of Xiping Marquis, while the one overseeing Zhuanglang is Wang Yi. Xiping Marquis has long governed Liangzhou, and Wang Yi is from Shandan Guard—their families reside in Liangzhou and Zhangye, respectively." At this point, Zhao Ling paused thoughtfully. "We can disregard Xiping Marquis and the Commandants overseeing Suzhou, Xining, and Zhenfan. However, we must pay respects to Marquis Yingchuan, Deputy Commander-in-Chief Lord Liu, Mo Yi, and Wang Yi of Zhuanglang. Marquis Yingchuan, Lord Liu, and Mo Yi all have concubines attending to them, while Lord Wang has his wife with him at his post... Marquis Yingchuan and Mo Yi are straightforward to handle. It’s said that Lord Liu’s concubine is somewhat related to Xiping Marquis’s family—she also shares the surname Feng and has borne Lord Liu a son, earning her his deep favor. This Feng Shi, perhaps because she is a concubine, has a particular fondness for gold, silver, and jewelry..."
Fu Tingyun understood immediately.
When Zhao Ling reported to the General Military Headquarters, these individuals had to be properly acknowledged. In principle, sending valuable gifts would suffice. However, due to Lord Liu’s concubine, the women in their households also had to be considered. There had always been a distinction between a principal wife and a concubine, but since Marquis Yingchuan and Deputy Commander Liu outranked Lord Wang, the challenge lay in how to acknowledge the women appropriately without breaching etiquette.
Fortunately, she had helped purchase the gifts.
After a brief consideration, Fu Tingyun said, "Since this Feng Shi likes gold and jewelry, why not buy four solid gold wine cups for her? For Marquis Yingchuan, we can gift the Mutton Fat Jade Gourd Pendant. For Mo Yi, the pair of gold-inlaid jade mandarin duck hairpins. And for Lord Wang, gold earrings embedded with rubies."
Jin Yuanbao nodded repeatedly. "The gold wine cups can be directly used as gold. The gourd symbolizes fertility and blessings, the mandarin ducks represent marital harmony, and red is the color of the principal wife. Miss Fu has arranged this perfectly." Then he hesitated slightly. "Though the rubies are rather small..."Because there wasn't enough money to buy something better at the time.
"But the quality is good," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "Sometimes, bigger isn't necessarily better. Sincerity matters more."
Jin Yuanbao laughed. "Let's hope Wang Furen can appreciate your thoughtful intentions."
"Then it's settled," Zhao Ling said cheerfully.
The atmosphere in the room lightened.
Yang Yucheng joked, "I'll have to dress up properly tomorrow then."
But Jin Yuanbao hesitated for a long moment before saying, "Actually, I think it would be better if only Ninth Master went to the General Military Headquarters tomorrow."
Yang Yucheng looked surprised.
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O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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