Escape to Your Heart

Chapter 84: Inquiries

Fu Tingyun was shocked and immediately stood up. "What did you say?"

Her voice was sharp and piercing, startling Zheng San. "They said Commander Lu has gone missing!"

"Who told you that?" Fu Tingyun's lips trembled as she paced anxiously around the room. "Just hearsay—how can you believe such rumors? Military affairs are confidential, and Commander Lu is a high-ranking official of the third rank. If he were missing, wouldn’t the General Military Headquarters have made some announcement..."

Zheng San remained silent, watching her.

Tears welled up in Fu Tingyun’s eyes.

She lowered her head. "Go call Zheng Sanniang in," she said softly, her voice tinged with melancholy.

Zheng San sighed inwardly and went to fetch his wife.

With Zheng Sanniang’s help, Fu Tingyun freshened up, changed her clothes, and went next door to Mo Yi’s residence.

Lu Shi was surprised to see her and invited her into the hall. "What brings Miss Fu here today?" Her tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

Fu Tingyun ignored the provocation and got straight to the point, recounting the rumors Zheng San had heard. "...I don’t know if it’s true or not. I wanted to ask Consort Lu for confirmation."

Lu Shi seemed to be hearing this for the first time.

Her expression changed drastically, and she called out loudly, "Mama Lu!"

A woman in her thirties entered.

"Go tell Shopkeeper Lu to return to Zhuanglang Garrison immediately and check on my brother," Lu Shi ordered.

The woman bowed respectfully and left without another word.

Lu Shi exhaled deeply.

She seemed to trust this Shopkeeper Lu implicitly, as her expression gradually relaxed. After a moment’s thought, she said, "Miss Fu, are you worried about Centurion Zhao? Don’t worry—once Shopkeeper Lu returns, we’ll know the truth."

Fu Tingyun nodded and sat with Lu Shi for a while before taking her leave.

Lu Shi, now troubled by the news, exchanged a few polite words and saw Fu Tingyun out.

Accompanied by Zheng San and his wife, Fu Tingyun went to see Wang Furen.

Wang Furen resided in the General Military Headquarters. The guards at the gate didn’t recognize Zhao Ling, let alone Zheng San, and Fu Tingyun dared not claim to be Wang Furen’s relative, so they were denied entry. It wasn’t until Zheng San mentioned Wei Shi that the guards summoned him, and only with Wei Shi’s escort were they allowed inside.

Though Wei Shi had guarded Fu Tingyun’s door for several days, he didn’t recognize her. He stole a curious glance, catching only the graceful curve of her chin beneath a lavender headscarf—smooth and fair as mutton-fat jade. His heart raced, and he quickly averted his gaze, keeping his eyes downcast as he walked and spoke with Zheng San.

"What business do you have with Wang Furen? If you’d come half an hour later, you wouldn’t have caught me—I’m about to leave for Xining Garrison on Madam’s orders..."

Fu Tingyun’s heart tightened at his words. "Sir Wei," she interjected before he could finish, "may I ask you something?" Without waiting for his reply, she continued, "Are you going to Xining Garrison to inquire about Wang Canjiang’s whereabouts?"

Wei Shi was momentarily taken aback.

Her voice was mesmerizing—like the chime of a mountain spring or the delicate ring of a jade bell, clear and melodious.

"Yes, yes!" he replied hastily. "Madam sent me to Xining Garrison to find out about our master’s whereabouts..."So, the rumors might not be entirely baseless after all?

Fu Tingyun remained silent.

Wei Shi muttered under his breath, "The intelligence came in last night. By the reckoning, Commander Lu has been missing for five or six days now, and our master still hasn't sent any definite word... Madam didn't sleep at all last night and went to see Liu Fuzongbing at dawn. Liu Fuzongbing confirmed it but told our madam not to spread the news to avoid unsettling the people."

A chill ran through Fu Tingyun's heart. When she met Wang Furen, before she could even speak, Wang Furen took her hand and said, "Don't worry. I'm sending Wei Shi to Xining Guard right away. He used to serve under the vice general and has seen his share of battles. Marquis Yingchuan is stationed in Menyuan, and his personal guards all know Wei Shi. He'll bring back news soon." Her calm demeanor and composed tone gradually soothed Fu Tingyun's anxious heart.

Wang Furen invited her to stay for lunch, saying with a smile, "...If not for this matter, you wouldn't have come to visit me." She linked arms with Fu Tingyun and led her to the inner chambers, calling for her housekeeper, "Go and fetch the two young misses to pay their respects to Miss Fu."

This was the courtesy extended to close family friends.

Caught unprepared, Fu Tingyun repeatedly declined the honor. When she met Wang Furen's two daughters, having nothing prepared, she took the pair of silver lotus hairpins from her hair and gave one each to the ten-year-old Eldest Miss Wang and the seven-year-old Second Miss Wang.

Both girls were exceptionally well-mannered and thanked Fu Tingyun gracefully.

Wang Furen modestly said, "I've spoiled them, and they lack proper manners. Please don't laugh at them, Miss Fu."

Eldest Miss Wang, being older, merely smiled demurely at her mother's words, while Second Miss Wang puffed her cheeks in slight indignation.

Fu Tingyun couldn't help but smile, her mood lifting considerably.

As Wang Furen chatted with her about everyday matters, the two young ladies sat properly, quiet and well-behaved. When it was time to eat, the housekeepers served a dish of pork floss.

Fu Tingyun looked at Wang Furen in surprise.

Wang Furen explained with a smile, "My father was the commander of Fuzhou Guard."

Fu Tingyun was visibly moved.

Fuzhou bordered the sea, where pirate raids were rampant. The Fujian Command often went to sea to suppress bandits, keeping nine-tenths of their spoils for themselves and turning in only one-tenth. Even ordinary squad leaders and centurions amassed considerable wealth, let alone a guard commander. Yet Wang Furen had followed Wang Canjiang to Zhangye.

"How did you come to marry into Shandan Guard?" Fu Tingyun asked. She remembered that Zhuanglang Garrison Vice General Wang Yi was from Shandan Guard—truly a match between the far ends of the earth. She couldn't help but voice her curiosity.

A shadow flickered in Wang Furen's eyes, but she quickly masked it and replied with a smile, "The vice general was a Presented Scholar in the military examinations of the 26th year of Xiping and served as a clerk in Fuzhou Guard. My father, impressed by his upright character, betrothed me to him. His father had long passed, and his mother had no one to care for her, so he was transferred to the Gansu General Military Headquarters. After his mother's death, I grew concerned about him being alone here and followed him."

So Wang Canjiang was actually a Presented Scholar!

This surprised Fu Tingyun. Noticing Wang Furen's expression, she sensed there might be more to the story and silently chided herself for prying. Changing the subject, she picked up a bite of pork floss and said, "This is only the second time I've had pork floss. The first was when I accompanied my grandmother to Nanjing..." She then shared some anecdotes from her time in Nanjing.Madam Wang and her two daughters listened with great interest, and the meal was enjoyed by all. When Fu Tingyun took her leave, the two Wang sisters reluctantly saw her to the door. The younger sister even tugged at her sleeve and asked, "Sister Fu, when will you come visit us again?" Her reluctance was palpable.

Madam Wang's eyes reddened slightly upon hearing this.

Zhangye was mostly populated by frontier soldiers, and the wives of low-ranking officials often came from humble backgrounds. Worried her daughters might pick up vulgar habits, Madam Wang avoided such associations. The higher-ranking officials were usually attended by concubines, making socializing even less desirable. Over time, only a few families remained in their social circle, none of whom had daughters of suitable age.

Fu Tingyun also took a liking to the two sisters. Seeing Madam Wang's reaction, she felt the woman wouldn't oppose their friendship and said with a smile, "If you have time, you're welcome to visit me too!"

The younger Miss Wang looked pleadingly at her mother.

Madam Wang smiled and stroked her daughter's cheek before saying to Fu Tingyun, "Then we'll have to trouble Miss Fu in the future."

"You're most welcome," Fu Tingyun replied cheerfully. "I'd be delighted."

Madam Wang personally escorted her to the gates of the General Military Headquarters.

On the way, Fu Tingyun asked Zheng Sanniang, who had been dining with the Wang family's servants, "Does Centurion Wang only have these two daughters?"

If there were any illegitimate daughters, the mistress might not allow them to receive guests.

Zheng Sanniang nodded. "The Wang family only has these two young misses." After a moment's thought, she added, "Centurion Wang only has Madam Wang by his side." She continued, "I heard Centurion Wang has been in Zhangye for ten years. In the early years when Madam Wang wasn't here, he was only attended by young male servants."

Fu Tingyun nodded inwardly, convinced the Wang couple were people worth befriending.

As they entered the backstreet alley, she noticed two exquisite carriages parked outside Lu Shi's residence, with four or five maids and coachmen chatting at the entrance. When they noticed someone approaching, they glanced over curiously. Two of the maids widened their eyes before scurrying into Lu Shi's courtyard.

Puzzled, Fu Tingyun faintly sensed this had something to do with her.

By the time she reached the gate, hearty laughter rang out from Lu Shi's courtyard.

"Miss Fu, we were just talking about you," a woman in her prime, dressed in a brocade sleeveless vest embroidered with peonies, emerged accompanied by Lu Shi. "I never thought we'd meet here." She smiled warmly at Fu Tingyun, the gold phoenix hairpin beside her dark bun gleaming brilliantly. "My maiden name is Feng. Thanks to Centurion Zhao's kindness, I quite liked those four gold-inlaid 'Magpies on Plum Branches' wine cups."

Fu Tingyun curtsied politely to Feng Shi, though inwardly shocked.

She hadn't expected the maids to alert Feng Shi so quickly, nor that Feng Shi would dare wear the crimson vest and gold phoenix hairpin reserved for legitimate wives. Feng Shi's audacity was astonishing.

"Thank you for your kindness," she replied diplomatically, deliberately omitting any title. "I'm glad you liked them." She then greeted Consort Lu.

Consort Lu still seemed distracted, likely preoccupied with the news Fu Tingyun had shared that morning."I just came back from Wang Furen's place and am covered in dust," Fu Tingyun said with a smile. "I won't disturb you two now. I'll visit another day when I'm free." She decided to mention Wang Furen to intimidate Feng Shi a little.

Both Feng Shi and Lu Shi's expressions changed slightly.

Lu Shi glanced at Feng Shi.

After a brief pause, Feng Shi raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Miss Fu went to Wang Furen to inquire about Centurion Zhao's news, didn't you? Come to think of it, I've heard something about this from my husband..." She looked thoughtfully at Fu Tingyun. "Why don't you come sit in Consort Lu's quarters? I'll tell you everything I know."

Fu Tingyun grew even more suspicious.

What exactly was Feng Shi up to?

In a flash of insight, she suddenly thought of Feng Dahu... Could it be?

She turned her gaze to Lu Shi.

Lu Shi smiled at her, though the smile seemed slightly forced.

This only confirmed Fu Tingyun's suspicions.

Some things couldn't be avoided forever. Rather than constantly worrying and being on guard, it was better to settle matters once and for all.

She smiled faintly. "Since I'm covered in travel dust, let me change my clothes first before joining you, Aunt Feng."

This Feng Shi didn't deserve her courtesy.

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Still looking for pink tickets... urgently needed... O(∩_∩)O~

(End of chapter)