Perfect Match – CH 079

Chapter 79

“Yunniang, are you leaving Xi’an?”

The man had clearly rushed over; the smell of medicine still lingered on his sleeves.

Deng Ruyun had the carriage stop by the roadside, got out, and spoke to him.

A willow tree swayed by the roadside, but it blocked some of the wind and sand from the road, providing coolness under its shade.

Seeing him catch up, Deng Ruyun guessed that he probably already had some idea about her being a contract wife in the Teng family.

She lowered her head slightly.

“Sixth Young Master knows my identity, does he not? I am leaving Xi’an now, and I will not be coming back much.”

Once she left, Deng Ruyun would never appear again, and the friends she had made in Xi’an over the past year, apart from Shopkeeper Qin and Inspector Sun, whom she had to ask for help from, she would never see anyone else again.

She looked at Bai Chunfu, preparing to bid him farewell as well.

“Sixth Young Master Bai, I am truly grateful for your help to Yuyun Hall and your assistance to me, but with my abilities, I am afraid I cannot repay you enough, and with my departure, it’s likely that we will not see each other again, Sixth Young Master…”

However, before she could finish speaking, Bai Chunfu suddenly interrupted her.

“Your affair with the Teng family is in the past. I do not know much about it, and I do not want to know now. But what does your leaving the Teng family, leaving him, have to do with us? Why speak of never seeing each other again?”

He rarely spoke so urgently. Deng Ruyun paused slightly and looked at him.

“But Sixth Young Master Bai, you still have to stay in Xi’an Prefecture on official business, right?”

Bai Chunfu said it did not matter; he was only looking at her.

“Since Yunniang cares so much about your Yuyun Hall, I do not think you will go too far, will you?”

He was right.

Deng Ruyun had not been to other places, and it was inconvenient for her to return to her hometown of Jinzhou. She only wanted to find a distant county town to live in seclusion.

Deng Ruyun did not answer for a moment. The dust kicked up by the passing galloping horses was parted by the branches of the willow trees, and a cool breeze swept through the shade.

Deng Ruyun saw Bai Chunfu speak, and his expression seemed to have returned to its former gentleness, though a subtle emotional fluctuation lingered in his eyes beneath his long brows.

He spoke softly, his eyes reflecting only her image.

“Do not say goodbye to me. Let me go with you. At least let me know where you are going to stay.”

… …

In Tongguan County, the northernmost part of Xi’an Prefecture.

When Deng Ruyun was about to leave the Teng family, she had asked Aunt Juan to look at houses in nearby towns and counties. However, houses too close to Xi’an City were unsuitable, and those outside Xi’an Prefecture were too far away, leaving her with no relatives or friends.

Aunt Juan inquired about houses in various places, which was overheard by Inspector Sun and Madam Zhou, who told her that several houses were for sale in their county of Tongguan, asking Aunt Juan to take a look and see if they were suitable.

They could not easily return to their hometown of Jinzhou, and without familiar faces by their side, the women of the family would not feel at ease. Inspector Sun was indeed the inspector of Tongguan County, so his presence here was most appropriate.

Although Deng Ruyun felt that this place was still easily discovered, she had to stay in the house that Aunt Juan had chosen beforehand, given her hasty departure.

The small courtyard was a spacious three-section house, even larger than the dowry house of Old Madam Lin in the east of the city. The courtyard was tidy, with places to store the family’s medicinal herbs, and the previous owner’s belongings were readily available.

Bai Chunfu had followed her all the way. Seeing that he was unwilling to leave, Deng Ruyun could only introduce him to her family.

Now that they had arrived at their lodging in Tongguan County, Deng Ruyun alighted from the carriage, lifted the curtain, and saw Bai Chunfu already standing beside it, extending his hand to her.

Deng Ruyun’s gaze swept over his face, then she lowered her head and looked away.

Deng Ruyun held onto the carriage, alighting from it herself. Seeing this, Bai Chunfu’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, but then he saw a small head peeking out from behind the curtain.

It was her little niece, Linglang.

Deng Ruyun turned to help Linglang out of the carriage, but Bai Chunfu spoke first.

“May Uncle Bai help you down?”

The little girl peeked out from behind the curtain, tilting her head to look at the person before her.

Her expression was almost identical to Yunniang’s. Bai Chunfu glanced back at Deng Ruyun, then asked Linglang.

“Is it alright?”

Linglang felt that this Uncle Bai seemed more kind and approachable than someone else’s uncle, unlike someone else’s uncle, who had not even appeared after her aunt left.

She blinked and nodded cautiously.

The mischievous glint in her eyes made her even more like Yunniang.

Bai Chunfu’s heart softened, and he reached out to take the little girl down.

He picked up the child, then helped Aunt Juan and her maternal grandmother down from the carriage for Deng Ruyun. He stood in front of the carriage, while Deng Ruyun fell behind.

This situation left her somewhat at a loss. Bai Chunfu, however, first escorted her maternal grandmother into the courtyard, then turned to Deng Ruyun and asked, “How long has Grandmother been ill?”

Her maternal grandmother was not actually very old, but the successive blows of losing Deng Ruyun’s elder brother and parents a few years ago had prematurely caused her to become mentally unstable. Previously, she had been struggling financially and had not been able to properly care for her grandmother. Only after arriving in Xi’an this year had her condition stabilized somewhat.

Deng Ruyun briefly explained her grandmother’s condition to Bai Chunfu, who thought for a moment and said, “If it’s due to a shock, she might regain her senses.”

He told Deng Ruyun not to worry too much, “After Grandmother rests for a while, I will take her pulse.”

Upon hearing this, Deng Ruyun thanked Bai Chunfu profusely, but he shook his head, saying it was not necessary, and instead asked her, “Could I stay in your outer courtyard?”

It was already late; he had escorted them all the way here. Could Deng Ruyun possibly turn him away?

She nodded. “I am afraid those rooms have not been cleaned yet; they are a bit messy.”

Bai Chunfu did not mind at all, instead smiling and saying, “On our way from the capital, Zhu Huang and I slept in a dilapidated temple halfway through the journey. This place is better than that, is it not?”

He joked with her, but although she responded with a slight smile, the smile did not reach her eyes. She lowered her eyes and fetched him bedding.

Bai Chunfu did not need her help. Just looking at her with her head down, his heart felt like a low-lying rain cloud, waiting for the wet rain to fall.

He could no longer present a smile.

She had married into the Teng family through a contract, becoming the wife of the most promising young general in Xi’an Prefecture. Others envied her, saying she was so lucky.

But a contract was a contract, and a contract wife was a contract wife; when the contract ended, she had to divorce.

Her marriage was uneventful, and her departure would be even more silent.

It was as if this girl had never existed in Xi’an…

Bai Chunfu could not describe his feelings; a sour, aching feeling spread throughout his body.

Her contractual husband knew nothing, simply treating her as his wife.

If he knew, he could keep his distance, making the separation easier, but he did not know how she had felt all year facing that other man’s affections.

Bai Chunfu’s guards had been secretly following him. He summoned them to help Deng Ruyun’s family tidy up their house and cook a meal.

Aunt Juan, initially believing Physician Bai had come alone, was startled when he casually called out, and a group of guards appeared behind him. Linglang was also too frightened to move.

But Bai Chunfu reassured them, asking carefully what they wished to eat, which he then had the guards prepare.

After the meal, the old grandmother rested briefly, and Bai Chunfu took her pulse.

He checked both her hands, then stood and told Deng Ruyun, “As I’ve said before, there’s still a possibility of improvement. However, I am not very familiar with this illness. I will write to my teacher in the capital later to ask for his response.”

Bai Chunfu’s teacher was none other than the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau.

Hearing this, Deng Ruyun finally felt a glimmer of hope for her grandmother’s condition.

Seeing that she had finally regained some spirit, Bai Chunfu then told her about the wind-heat disease currently spreading in Shaanxi Province.

“This illness can no longer be simply diagnosed as a wind-heat disease; I believe it has become a veritable epidemic this year.”

He said Zhu Huang had brought back the formula for the Lingqiao Detoxifying Pill. “I’ve seen your formula; that was exactly the approach I was using. I did not expect Yunniang to react so quickly, already devising such an effective over-the-counter medicine.”

Deng Ruyun said the formula was not her own creation. “It’s a fragmented formula my grandmother mentioned. Actually, my grandmother studied medicine from a young age and saw countless cases; I’ve only learned the basics so far.”

As she spoke, she and Bai Chunfu both looked towards the old woman enjoying the breeze under the eaves.

An aging, battle-hardened old pharmacist and physician—a rare treasure indeed.

Bai Chunfu said he would write to his master in the capital as soon as possible and then spoke to Deng Ruyun.

“Your Lingqiao Detoxifying Pill can be adjusted a bit more. I’ve been focusing on this illness lately, taking notes on quite a few cases. I will have Zhu Huang bring it to you later.”

He smiled. “If Yuyun Hall can use the Lingqiao Detoxifying Pill to suppress this year’s epidemic, that will be a great achievement, and the court will reward you.”

Deng Ruyun had not thought about any merit or reward. Now, she and Bai Chunfu walked out of the back door of the courtyard, along the alley to a breezy corner.

The daytime heat dissipated, and a gentle night breeze blew at their feet.

Bai Chunfu looked at the person beside him. He noticed she did not show much joy at the possibility of merit or reward. Previously, she had been completely focused on Yuyun Hall; if even one medicine sold well, she would be overjoyed for half a day. But this time, she only smiled faintly, head down, looking at her feet, slowly walking through the night alley.

The Deng family’s temporary courtyard was not far from the city gate. The two walked for less than fifteen minutes before reaching a teahouse near the gate.

It was just dusk, and many people were fanning themselves, drinking tea, and enjoying the cool air in front of the teahouse.

The lanterns on the teahouse awning swayed gently.

As they approached, they heard several men who looked like military officers drinking tea, their conversation drawing a crowd of customers.

A voice came from within the crowd.

“…Such a big thing happened in Ningxia. It was only thanks to General Teng that the rebels were quelled and the border was secured. Now, he’s been arrested as a traitor and taken to the capital for trial. Who knows how the court will sentence him!”

Upon hearing this, Bai Chunfu saw the people around him immediately raise their heads and look into the crowd.

Someone in the crowd asked, “Has General Teng really been taken to the capital? Has he arrived yet?”

The officer in the center of the crowd replied, “Not yet. My general, General Kong, is a comrade-in-arms with General Teng. He said he’s been taken there for several days. Although he has not arrived in the capital yet, he should be there soon.”

Unexpectedly, this man was one of Kong Hui’s soldiers.

Upon hearing this, someone else said, “General Teng is a great general from Shaanxi. He achieved countless merits at a young age. How can we not feel heartbroken that he’s fallen into such a predicament? Sir, please help us find out as much as possible. If you have any news about General Teng, do not forget to let us know at the teahouse!”

Everyone said this, and the officer slammed his hand on the table, saying, “Do not worry; as long as I know, I will let you know!”

Deng Ruyun stood at the alley entrance by the teahouse, listening to their conversation absentmindedly.

Even after the officer left and the crowd gradually dispersed, she was still standing there in a daze.

A gust of sand swept past her feet, and someone suddenly spoke to her beside her.

“Yunniang, is there something you want to say to me?”

Bai Chunfu suddenly asked.

Deng Ruyun was slightly taken aback and looked at him. She saw the swaying teahouse lanterns reflecting his long, drooping eyebrows and his gentle gaze as he asked her.

Deng Ruyun paused, then shook her head.

“No, nothing.”

After she said this, Bai Chunfu heard her softly call his name.

“It’s getting late; let’s go back.”

… …

The next day, Madam Zhou secretly came and sent three or four servants to make arrangements for Deng Ruyun. Inspector Sun also specially led his men from the Inspectorate, patrolling Deng Ruyun’s door twice, turning this area into his sphere of influence.

Deng Ruyun was naturally grateful, but the elderly in Madam Zhou’s household had contracted the summer plague, and the family’s condition was rather poor.

Upon hearing this, Bai Chunfu went with her to the Zhou family’s house.

When they returned, it was already late, but Deng Ruyun was not home.

He asked Aunt Juan, who replied, “Yunniang said she went to the market to buy things, and she’s been out for a while now.”

It was already dark, and seeing that she had not returned, Bai Chunfu went out to look for her.

Most of the shops in the market were closed, with only a few restaurants and teahouses remaining open.

Bai Chunfu searched half the street without finding a trace of her, and he grew increasingly anxious. He was about to order his guards to look for her when a thought suddenly struck him, and he headed towards the teahouse near the city gate.

He hurried towards the city gate, but before he even reached the teahouse, he saw someone hiding in a small alley next to it.

Beneath the wall of the alleyway, hidden from the lanterns of the teahouse, she stood silently in the deserted shadows, standing there for an unknown amount of time, until the officer under Kong Hui’s command came to drink tea there again, just like yesterday.

As soon as the man arrived, Bai Chunfu saw her feet instinctively move forward.

But her steps faltered as she reached the edge of the shadows.

She was a contracted wife, a contracted wife who could never return once she left. She could only listen from the shadows, through people who were several layers of kin from him, to hear snippets of news about that man…

But what news could that officer possibly have in just one day?

Some people asked, but the officer waved his hand, “I do not know yet, at least ten days or half a month, unless General Teng met with misfortune on the way…”

As soon as the officer said this, Bai Chunfu saw the woman hidden in the shadows clench her hands tightly under her sleeves until they turned white.

Deng Ruyun leaned against the wall, listening intently to the whispers and speculations of the crowd in the teahouse. Everyone was worried and anxious, but no one could offer any further information.

She composed herself, slowly turned around, and prepared to return through the alley.

But as soon as she turned, she saw someone standing not far behind her.

It was Bai Chunfu.

“What are you doing here?” Deng Ruyun asked, holding up the pastries in her hand. “Did Aunt Juan send you to find me? I just bought a bag of pastries; I am going back now.”

She started to leave, but Bai Chunfu did not move.

He suddenly asked her again about what he had said yesterday, his words now filled with an increasingly complex and unreadable emotion.

“Is Yunniang really not going to tell me anything?”

Deng Ruyun looked at him, her eyes flickering slightly.

She tightened her grip on the pastries, a breeze brushing against her sleeve.

After a long pause, she asked.

“I wonder if, when Sixth Young Master Bai wrote to your master, you could have mentioned… General Teng?”

His fate was uncertain; having someone speak for him might mean having a better chance of survival.

She spoke, glancing at Bai Chunfu, but he softly told her, “My master is the head of the Imperial Medical Bureau, but his relationship with that Chief Eunuch is not good; I am afraid he cannot say much.”

After he finished speaking, he saw the light in Deng Ruyun’s eyes dim, disappointment barely concealed beneath her downcast eyelids.

But Bai Chunfu asked her again, “Then, Yunniang, is there anything else you want to tell me?”

His most important identity in the capital was not given to him by his master.

It was his mother, the Grand Princess, a member of the imperial family.

He asked her, waiting for her to speak.

But she silently pursed her lips and shook her head.

“That’s all.”

Deng Ruyun had nothing more to say.

How had Bai Chunfu come from the capital to Xi’an? How had he been hiding from his mother all this time, only to be forced to stand up for Yuyun Hall and for her, ultimately leading to his discovery by the Grand Princess’s men?

Given his relationship with his mother, for her to speak to him was tantamount to pushing him back into the fire pit from the shore he had finally managed to reach.

Teng Yue still had his mother, Old Madam Lin, and his future wife, Young Lady Zhang, and so many comrades-in-arms who had shared life and death with him… He would definitely be alright.

But if Bai Chunfu were to fall back into the fire pit that was swallowing him up, who would help him?

Deng Ruyun could not risk harming another to save one.

She took a deep breath, calming herself, and suddenly smiled at Bai Chunfu.

“There was a snack stall by the roadside that had not closed yet. The snacks smelled amazing; they were local Shaanxi flatbreads. I wonder if you like them?”

She changed the subject, leading him back.

Bai Chunfu’s gaze trembled as he looked at her.

She continued talking about the unrelated snacks, trying to completely steer his attention away.

“…I heard your father was from Fengxiang, Shaanxi. You must have often eaten Shaanxi flatbreads before, right?”

Bai Chunfu’s father was indeed from Shaanxi. Even after becoming a prince consort in the capital and later being appointed an official in Fujian by the Grand Princess, he always brought a Shaanxi cook with him.

Bai Chunfu’s gaze remained fixed on the person beside him. After a long while, he finally answered her.

“Yes, Father only likes Shaanxi pastries. During his years as an official in Fujian, he always had a Shaanxi chef with him. There was a period when the chef fell ill and had to return home. Father was not used to the climate and food there, and he lost a lot of weight.”

Even so, his mother, the Grand Princess, refused to allow Father to return to the North.

He did not say these things, but she seemed to guess. Seeing her only smile and say she had never been to the South, he wondered, “If I had the chance to go, would I be able to adapt…”

She did not mention anything else, carrying the pastries back to her small courtyard.

It was getting late, and Bai Chunfu stopped at the inner courtyard gate.

But he called her name.

“Yunniang, your Lingqiao Detoxifying Pill is very effective this time. You must spread this medicine widely; Yuyun Hall will make a name for itself.”

He said he would come, and Deng Ruyun nodded earnestly.

“Alright, I’ve got it.”

… …

The next morning, it rained, and Deng Ruyun got up a little late.

She got up and could not help but think of going to the teahouse in front of the city gate again, but after thinking about it, she did not go out.

But Aunt Juan came to tell her, “Sixth Young Master Bai left early this morning.”

Deng Ruyun was taken aback and went to the outer courtyard.

Bai Chunfu had already left, leaving only Zhu Huang standing in the room where Bai Chunfu had stayed that day, carrying a thick stack of medical records.

“The madam is awake. Sixth Young Master asked me to bring you all the medical records; it will be much easier for you to look through them.”

Deng Ruyun looked at the thick stack of medical records. “Where is Sixth Young Master? Did he go back to Xi’an?”

She asked, but saw Zhu Huang gently shake his head.

Deng Ruyun’s heart skipped a beat. “Where did he go?”

Zhu Huang pursed his lips and looked at her.

“Sixth Young Master…returned to the capital.”

The words left his lips, and Deng Ruyun froze.

*

On the day the prison carts escorting the Rebel Prince and his remnants from Ningxia arrived in the capital, Old Madam Lin, Madam Yang, and the fourth young lady of the Zhang family also rushed to the city gate.

Old Madam Lin and Madam Yang naturally wanted to see Marquis Yongchang as soon as possible, but Zhang Zhenhui kindly reminded the two elders.

“The carts escorting General Teng and ours have only just arrived in the capital. Uncle probably has not sorted out the situation yet. If you two elders trust me, I will go to Uncle first to discuss it and see what he thinks. I will also try my best to say a few words for the general so that Uncle can have time to consider it.”

Her words were not without reason.

Ultimately, the so-called marriage between the Teng and Zhang families was still only a matter of discussion among a few people.

Old Madam Lin felt it was inconvenient to rashly ask the Yongchang Marquis’s Mansion to speak on Teng Yue’s behalf, so she specially prepared generous gifts and money and also brought Madam Yang, a relative by marriage from both sides, to act as a go-between.

Since Young Lady Zhang had this intention, Old Madam Lin did not want to say anything more. Thinking that since she had come to ask for a favor, why not be dignified and frank? She decided to have Young Lady Zhang take the generous gifts and money to her uncle, the Marquis.

If this matter could be accomplished, the Marquis would accept it; if not, given the wealth of the Marquis’s Mansion, he would naturally not covet these things.

She took out the gift list, and Nanny Dong, the wet nurse, looked at the fully listed gifts, her eyes lighting up.

Just then, Madam Yang said something.

“We’ve only just started talking; is it not a bit inappropriate to send such an expensive gift? It might alarm the Marquis and make him think the Teng family’s situation is troublesome.”

She immediately snatched the gift list from Nanny Dong’s hand, only selecting a portion of the gifts, and had Zhang Zhenhui take it over.

“The Marquis is not a greedy person; it’s better to proceed gradually.”

Old Madam Lin agreed, saying she had been too hasty. “Let’s take it one step at a time.”

With both women agreeing, Nanny Dong could not say anything more.

Zhang Zhenhui did not say much either, only that she would return to the Zhang family first.

“I will inform the two elders as soon as I have news, so please rest assured.”

Her words were gentle, but her meaning was clear, and the two women could only nod in agreement, placing their hopes on her.

Second Madam Yang led Old Madam Lin back to a mansion in the capital where the Yang family had stayed. This was a house acquired by the Yang family patriarch when he served as an official in the capital, and it now served as lodging for the Yang family when they visited.

The capital was a magnificent sight, bustling with people in fine clothes and brocade caps, the majestic city walls and towering red walls of the imperial palace standing tall and imposing.

Old Madam Lin looked up and felt that in this city filled with high-ranking officials and nobles, her family’s power seemed so insignificant.

Whether Teng Yue could be rescued depended entirely on the words spoken among these powerful figures.

*

Meanwhile, at the Grand Princess’s Mansion.

The man, who had been away from home for nearly a year, returned.

The man strode through the noble princess’s mansion that had once imprisoned him, his boots and robes fluttering as he walked.

The eunuchs, seeing his sudden return, were all greatly surprised and hurried inside to report.

“Sixth Young Master is back!”