Chapter 95: News (Bonus Chapter for 1,000 Pink Votes)
Zheng San went to open the door.
It was Li Niang, the housekeeper who served closely by Wang Furen's side.
"Is Miss Fu at home?" Her fair face was flushed with excitement, her eyes and brows brimming with joy. "There's news from Master Zhao! Our mistress sent me to inform Miss Fu."
"Really?" Zheng San was both shocked and delighted, quickly ushering Li Niang inside. "Miss Fu is currently resting in A Sen's room..."
As they bypassed Shanning Daozhang, who was conducting a ritual ceremony, Li Niang couldn't help but glance at him a few more times.
Shanning Daozhang frowned slightly.
This family had invited him to perform the ceremony, yet they showed no respect. Was it because he had agreed too readily?
The thought filled him with silent annoyance.
Zheng San and Li Niang had already entered the eastern wing room.
"There's news of Ninth Master?" Fu Tingyun stood up, overjoyed, and helped Li Niang up from her curtsy.
Li Niang nodded with a smile. "Master Wei just returned. As soon as our mistress heard, she sent me rushing to deliver the news to you. She said Commander Lu was surrounded by Mongols at Wang Family Village, and it was only thanks to Master Zhao's desperate efforts that Commander Lu managed to escape. But because Commander Lu was severely injured, Master Zhao had to carry him westward for days. By the time they found Marquis Yingchuan's camp, seven or eight days had passed..."
Fu Tingyun was overwhelmed with happiness and pulled Li Niang closer, asking, "Was Master Zhao injured? Where is he now? Even though Commander Lu was defeated, Master Zhao's rescue should count as merit—surely the Ministry of War won't punish him, right?" One question tumbled after another, leaving Li Niang no chance to respond. When Fu Tingyun finally paused, Li Niang smiled and said, "Don't worry, miss. Master Zhao must be fine—otherwise, Master Wei would have surely mentioned it to our mistress."
Wang Furen had sent Wei Shi to Xining Guard primarily to inquire about Lord Wang's whereabouts. Just as Fu Tingyun was eager for news of Zhao Ling, Wang Furen was likely too preoccupied to ask for details about him.
Fu Tingyun nodded, unable to stay still any longer. She said to Li Niang, "I'll go back to the General Military Headquarters with you—I want to ask Master Wei about Ninth Master myself!" Her cheeks flushed slightly as she spoke.
Li Niang understood the joy of hearing about a loved one's safety and didn't find Fu Tingyun's eagerness improper. She nodded repeatedly with a smile.
Fu Tingyun instructed Zheng San with a few words like "Take good care of the house, I'll be back soon," then went inside to change her clothes.
When she emerged, everyone had already heard the news about Zhao Ling, and their faces were lit with happiness. A Sen, unwilling to stay home to look after Linchun, clamored to go along: "I want to hear it too!"
It wouldn't do to bring the whole household every time she visited Wang Furen.
But Zhao Ling was like a father and elder brother to A Sen. If she didn't take him, he might sneak out later even if he agreed to stay now.
After a moment's thought, Fu Tingyun said to Zheng Sanniang, "Let A Sen accompany me. You stay home and take care of Linchun."
Zheng Sanniang naturally didn't dare oppose Fu Tingyun's arrangements. Holding Linchun, she saw Fu Tingyun to the gate, repeatedly saying, "Please ask Wang Furen carefully if we should send any medicine, clothes, or shoes and socks to Ninth Master."
Fu Tingyun smiled and agreed, then stepped out the door.The commotion outside had already dispersed, with both the Mo and Qi families keeping their gates tightly shut. Onlookers gathered in small clusters, whispering among themselves. When they noticed movement from Fu Tingyun's side, they craned their necks to look over.
A Sen's joy was impossible to contain. He laughed loudly, "We're going to the General Military Headquarters! There's news about our Ninth Master—he saved Commander Lu of Xining Guard and is now resting in Marquis Yingchuan's tent!"
"Ah!" The crowd gasped in unison, their eyes turning to Fu Tingyun. Though she still had a handkerchief draped over her head, the irrepressible smile at the corners of her lips seemed to confirm A Sen's words.
"My goodness! Centurion Zhao saved Commander Lu? Surely he'll be promoted now?" someone remarked enviously.
"Yes, indeed," another chimed in. "Miss Fu, your hardships have finally paid off."
Fu Tingyun nodded at them with a smile. "Thank you all. I’ll need to go to the General Military Headquarters for the details."
The crowd exchanged pleasantries with her, but as soon as Fu Tingyun and her group left the back alley, their conversation shifted to whether the Ministry of War would punish Commander Lu for his recent defeat.
Consort Lu trembled with rage as she directed Xuemei to help the maids and old servants tend to their wounds, all while calculating how much silver to give them as compensation. The rising chatter outside only fueled her irritation. She snapped at a newly purchased young maid who hadn’t even grown her hair out yet, "Go! Listen to what nonsense they're spouting!"
While the neighbors had been gathered at the Zhao residence watching the spectacle, two men had climbed out of her family’s courtyard—something she only learned two days later. It didn’t take a genius to figure out they were Feng Dahu’s accomplices, fleeing from the Zhao residence and hiding in her courtyard.
That idiot Feng Dahu! Even his accomplices were fools!
Why did they have to pick the worst possible time—early in the morning when everyone was next door watching the commotion?
Damn it all! Not a single brain cell among them!
Who knew what backwater Feng Dahu had dragged these morons from?
Utterly stupid, absolutely brainless!
And now, she was implicated because of it!
What good was Feng Dahu besides causing trouble?
Why couldn’t he just drop dead?
At this thought, Consort Lu’s gaze turned venomous.
That Feng Shi was just as clueless, still scheming to save her worthless brother. Even if he survived, he’d remain useless—likely to cause more trouble and drag Feng Shi down with him.
Her teeth ground audibly.
The general wouldn’t believe the rumors, but with so many witnesses seeing two men flee her home, he’d undoubtedly hunt them down… and if they were caught…
Consort Lu shuddered involuntarily.
The young maid rushed back in. "Madam, madam! They’re saying Commander Lu was defeated in battle, and the court might hold him accountable—"
Like adding fuel to the fire, Consort Lu, already seething, slapped the maid hard across the face, sending her stumbling to the ground.
"You little harlot! How dare you spout such lies? Our Lu family holds a hereditary Chiliarch title—how could the court possibly hold us accountable?"
A trickle of bright red blood dripped from the maid’s lips.
Clutching her cheek, she dared not cry, her eyes brimming with tears.Consort Lu grew even more irritated at the sight and stepped forward to kick the little maid several times, making the girl clutch her legs and beg, "Spare me, Consort!"
The other maids and matrons in the hall lowered their eyes.
Exhausted from the beating, Consort Lu panted heavily as she collapsed into the Grand Tutor chair. Xuemei hurriedly served her a cup of hot tea.
After taking a sip, she felt slightly better and barked at the maid still crumpled on the floor, "Get up! Stop pretending to be dead. Tell me properly—what are people outside saying?"
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Meanwhile, Wang Furen's chambers were filled with laughter and cheer.
"So General Wang led two thousand men to annihilate four thousand Mongols and even killed the leader of the Hachut tribe? That's a great achievement!" Fu Tingyun exclaimed in delight.
Six tribes had participated in this Mongol invasion.
Wang Furen nodded modestly. "As a brigade general of Xining Guard, it was his duty to make amends for the incident there. At best, he hopes the court will lessen their censure in light of him killing a tribal leader—he dares not expect any recognition for merit." Knowing Fu Tingyun was anxious for news of Zhao Ling, she smoothly changed the subject. "I asked Wei Shi about it. Centurion Zhao was with Yang Yucheng, the junior officer who enlisted with him. After rescuing Commander Lu, they deduced Marquis Yingchuan would likely set up camp near Tianti Mountain, so they carried Commander Lu westward. On the way, they encountered Jin Yuanbao, another junior officer who had come searching for them. With twenty or thirty men escorting Commander Lu, they reached Marquis Yingchuan. Centurion Zhao and Junior Officer Jin are unharmed. Junior Officer Yang suffered an arrow wound to his arm, but it's nothing serious—he'll recover after some rest. Marquis Yingchuan intends to let Commander Lu redeem himself through merit, assigning Centurion Zhao, Junior Officer Jin, and several other elite officers under the Marquis to him. Rest assured, not only will Centurion Zhao emerge unscathed, but he'll also distinguish himself with merit. You can prepare to celebrate his triumphant return."
Fu Tingyun nodded repeatedly, the weight in her heart finally lifting.
The enmity between Marquis Yingchuan and Xiping Marquis ran deep, and Lu Cheng had been personally promoted by the former after his arrival in Zhangye. By all accounts, Marquis Yingchuan wouldn't allow Lu Cheng to fall. As long as Lu Cheng was safe, Zhao Ling, who had saved his life, would naturally be spared as well.
She couldn't help sighing. "When I used to hear those operas about triumphant heroes returning in glory, it all seemed so effortless. Now that I'm living through it, I realize how grueling it truly is. When I visited the Grand Buddha Temple to burn incense recently, I even regretted encouraging him to enlist."
"In our youth, we fear nothing. Once our husbands join the military, we think they must become regional commanders or governors to make their lives worthwhile," Wang Furen mused wistfully. "But after becoming mothers, with children to care for and households to maintain, our courage dwindles. All we wish for is the family's safety—everything else seems trivial by comparison."
As they shared their thoughts, Li Niang entered. "Madam, Feng Shi requests an audience!"
Fu Tingyun froze.
Wang Furen whispered to her with a smile, "She must be here to ask for medicine."
Understanding dawned on Fu Tingyun, who quickly rose. "Then I should excuse myself."The reason for Feng Dahu's injury was an open secret. If Feng Shi saw her, she'd probably want to tear her apart. Feng Shi had a fiery temper and had already swallowed her pride to beg Wang Furen for help on her brother's behalf. If a conflict arose, she might rather perish together with her enemy than endure momentary humiliation—wouldn't that waste all of Wang Furen's efforts?
After some thought, Wang Furen nodded and said, "Very well. Given Feng Shi's temperament, she wouldn't use the wound medicine I sent unless she was truly desperate. I suspect she only started using it recently and saw some effect, so she's treating it as a last resort by coming to me for more. After I give her two bottles and she sees the results, she'll have to swallow whatever temper she has."
Fu Tingyun smiled and went to visit the two young misses of the Wang family.
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(End of Chapter)
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