"To this day, no one from Dayue has come looking for me. Even Lian Yang himself came to the capital city. He should have known I was in Camp Town, yet he never tried to contact me. I’ve already been treated as an abandoned pawn.
"I, Tie Ying, am willing to do my utmost to help Great Zhou eradicate the remnants of those who bring calamity to the country. I seek nothing in return, only hope that after the major matters are settled, the General’s wife and General Pei will allow me, Tie Ying, to bring my family over and find a small corner within the lands of Great Zhou to settle down."
As he spoke, he lifted his robe, knelt on one knee, and lowered his head.
Fu Zhen looked at the back of his head, "You’re not returning to your hometown?"
Tie Ying was silent for a moment, then shook his head, "No, I won’t. Even if I return, the Tie Family has been destined for generations to serve the Imperial Family loyally.
"In these few months in the Great Zhou Capital, I’ve personally encountered many of your great heroes and witnessed the passionate zeal of the Emperor of Great Zhou. I think it suits me and my family better to be ordinary citizens in Great Zhou."
Fu Zhen stared at him for a moment, then said softly, "I can’t decide on this matter. You may rise first."
Tie Ying didn’t linger, and upon rising, he promptly cupped his hands and said, "Please have the General’s wife arrange for Guard Guo to accompany me to find General Pei."
Fu Zhen nodded, called Guo Song in from outside the door, and after giving clear instructions, sent them on their way.
Tie Ying’s departing figure was ramrod straight as he walked out of the General Mansion with his head held high—completely different from when he was rescued from the box.
"Young Madam, the carriages to the Liang Family and Cheng family are ready. May I ask if Young Madam is ready to depart now?"
Jiang Lin strode in from outside the door and asked for instructions upon arrival.
Fu Zhen waved her hand, "Let’s head to the Cheng family then."
...
Mrs. Cheng’s health has greatly improved, even more than when Fu Zhen brought ginseng last time, having gained a bit of weight. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were selecting seasonal fabric materials. Upon seeing Fu Zhen, they invited her to help them choose.
Fu Zhen wasn’t quite adept with dressing and fashion, but having been familiar with Mrs. Cheng since childhood and after months of learning by Mrs. Ning’s side, she had managed to provide several good suggestions.
In the midst of conversation, Mrs. Cheng sighed again, still troubled over the fact that Cheng Chili was not yet wed at his age.
Mrs. Cheng and her daughter-in-law had enlisted all kinds of relatives to find a match for Cheng Chili, but the simpleton seemed like a woodblock, unable to say a single word when meeting the girls. The girls found him unappealing, so nothing had been settled yet.
Fu Zhen agreed it was indeed a matter, but she couldn’t help much at the moment. She thought she’d have a proper talk with Cheng Chili when she saw him, to see what his thoughts were.
Mrs. Cheng invited Fu Zhen to stay for dinner, but Fu Zhen declined as she had to go to the Liang Family.
Mrs. Cheng escorted her out, and when they reached the front gate, she asked in a hushed voice, "Is something happening at the palace?"
Fu Zhen blinked, "Could it be? Did you hear anything?"
"I haven’t heard anything specific. However, the Emperor’s health is declining day by day. The Crown Prince was executed so long ago, yet the palace hasn’t decreed King Yan as the Crown Prince. It feels like something unexpected might happen?"
Mrs. Cheng began to worry aloud, "God forbid, let nothing go wrong again. How prosperous was the Lao Cheng family before? After several battles, only Li and his brother are left. Now, every household is waiting to thrive and spread."
"It won’t happen," Fu Zhen comforted her. "Everything will turn out well. There is only one Prince in the palace. Whether they issue a decree or not, doesn’t it amount to the same? The Emperor and Empress are well aware. You should relax and focus on arranging the marriage for Lao Qi."
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Cheng felt somewhat reassured and chatted a bit more about domestic topics before letting Fu Zhen leave.
Along the way, the streets were bustling with people. Although the citizens wore plain clothes, they looked energetic and vibrant, each engaged in their trades or crafts, carrying hope with them.
Fu Zhen lowered the curtain without a word.
If the troubles in the palace and the northwest aren’t resolved, the impact won’t be limited to just a few people.
...
After spending the morning and having lunch at Wanbin Building, Yang Yi, along with He Zhao, headed to the brokerage.
He wasn’t sure whether he would end up disappointing the Empress; when Pei Zhan no longer needed him, would he follow through with the initial plan to leave the capital city for their next destination? Yet he couldn’t help but follow the Empress’s instructions to look for a house.