Chapter 12: The Pitiful Fu Yun Ting

“Yun Ting, how are the preparations for the wedding?” Li Hong Yuan leaned back onto the back of the chair, relaxing his body and carrying a bit of laziness. In addition to that first rate handsome face, it really was a pleasing scene to the eyes. Even men couldn’t help giving a few extra glances.

“Replying to wangye[1], everything is already prepared. The wedding date is set on two months later.” Sadly, Fu Yun Ting was determined to be blind.

“The time is too long, you must get married by the end of the month.” Those faint dark eyes unblinkingly landed on Fu Yun Ting’s body.

“….Yes.” This month only has a few more days before it ends, Fu Yun Ting really wanted to yell at him. Just what do you want to do? With their Wu’an Marquis Manor’s awkward status, it was possible that he won’t be able to marry a decent wife in his entire life. Even he wasn’t that anxious. Master, what are you in a hurry for? Could it be that this marriage even relates to your great cause? Afraid of long nights more dreams? The longer it drags out the more likely something will happen?

Li Hong Yuan conveniently tossed him a long flat box, “Wedding gift.”

“Many thanks your Highness.” It was as light as a feather, unknown as to what’s inside. Fu Yun Ting’s heart somewhat shivered, unsure whether or not this was the living Enma’s next move.

He didn’t know exactly how many people threw themselves under wangye, but just the few he was mutually familiar with, who didn’t say he was the number one capable favorite in front of wangye. There were even some that say he was wangye’s pretty boy[2]. Mother, he would rather work harder than cows, or even work as a free laborer, just asking to be excused from seeing that living Enma. And also that pretty boy and whatnot, he sometimes was even willing to put down his dignity, hoping it was true. At least, according to this one’s habit of not pampering for more than seven days, as long as he got by those seven days, then he’ll never be noticed by him ever again. There was really nothing better than this. Unfortunately, ever since this master secretly gave him a pretty good marriage match, the rumors also vanished into thin air.

It can be surmised how deep the ‘harm’ Li Hong Yuan has caused for Fu Yun Ting.

Initially, Fu Yun Ting had thought that this master was the same to everyone. Eventually, he learned afterwards that this was not at all the case. In private, he’d practically never seen him reveal any emotions before. Even when he dealt with people using bloody and cruel methods, he was still like a rippleless old well. No one is able to guess his thoughts.

Only when Fu Yun Ting met with him alone, the gaze that landed on his body was just like a venomous snake staring at a prey, containing howling winds and violent rain. As if he could, at any time, rip him into pieces. Many times, Fu Yun Ting had thought that this one would take his life, but he didn’t. Even if he repeatedly ‘shared moves’ with him at the martial arts practice field, breaking his bones here and there, falling unconscious no less than three times. But in the end, he was still fine. Using the best injury medicine, not to mention not leaving behind any lingering aliments, at the same time, his martial arts skills also slowly improved. He dared to say that right now in the capital, there weren’t many that could beat him.

Fu Yun Ting understood, the living Enma must have some grudge against him. Just, he didn’t know what the cause was, but he definitely wouldn’t take his life either. As time went on, though he was still scared, he’d gotten used to it. What he wanted to know the most right now was, just exactly what grudge exist between them?

The grudge of killing the parents? Don’t joke around, this one’s old man is the emperor. He, Fu Yun Ting, still didn’t have the guts nor the ability to commit regicide. And when this one’s mother had died, he, Fu Yun Ting, wasn’t even born yet. The grudge of stealing the wife and killing the son? He, Fu Yun Ting, have always kept his hands clean. In addition, the one above was all kinds of eagerness to eliminate their Wu’an Marquis Manor. By his side, he didn’t even have a tongfang[3] servant girl, and didn’t Jin Qinwang Manor not even have a wangfei[4] either? And those that once could’ve possibly become the Jin Wangfei, if not dead, then had gotten into a mishap. Even so, that didn’t have the least bit to do with him either! Wangye, can you please tell me, where has this little one offended you?

Could it be a grudge from a past lifetime?

“Get lost then.”

“……yes.” Just letting him off like this? Fu Yun Ting increasingly felt the box in his hand was scalding.

Li Hong Yuan stared at a certain person’s back, causing that certain person to instinctively pick up his pace, quickly disappearing.

“This lifetime, you won’t have a chance anymore.” Li Hong Yuan mumbled in a low voice that even he himself couldn’t hear.

Fu Yun Ting smoothly and routinely avoided the spies that were planted inside and outside of their Wu’an Marquis manor. After returning to his room, he didn’t hesitate and directly opened the small box. He was very clear, the things Jin Qinwang gave, he absolutely didn’t have a reason to get rid of it without looking at it. And the thing inside, far exceeded his expectations. It was banknotes, and moreover, there was no less than 300,000 taels of sliver worth of it.

Fu Yun Ting sat atop the chair and stared at the banknotes, lost in thought.

Their Wu’an Marquis Manor’s predecessor was the founding Wu’an Duke Manor. Their official residence didn’t, because of dropping in rank, reduced in size. In contrast, the inside still remained brightly decorated, appearing to not lack in anything in comparison with the Sun family’s Ding Duke Manor. But, those who knew a bit of inside information all know that this was merely a front. No matter how good or how beautiful the things were, they were all bestowed by the Emperor, can’t be eaten, can’t be drunk[5]. The only money that could be used for the expenses in the entire Wu’an Marquis Manor, in the average year, never exceeded a thousand taels. And this was even from the result of the entire manor getting by frugally. They had properties and shops, but were all controlled by others. The money that could reach their hands was just enough for them to arduously pass their days with. He had two nephews and a niece. Over a year’s time, they still might not necessarily be able to have a cut of new clothes. Often times, it was using the adults’ clothes and altering it smaller for them to wear. Because they were being watched too tightly, he couldn’t even think of another way to get money.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

And just this surface level glory, was even brought back by his uncles, his father, as well as his older brothers from the battlefield using their life, their blood, in exchange. Of the commoner-born founding three dukes five marquises, only their Fu family, from beginning to end, persisted down the military path. No matter how they’ve declined, they still pushed through with their teeth clenched. Fu Yun Ting once didn’t understand, what the point in this kind of perseverance was, until the entire marquis manor only had him, this sole pillar, left.

He couldn’t forget those corpses of his loved ones that were defeated in battle. He couldn’t forget his eldest uncle who has, as the Wu’an Marquis, been laying paralyzed in bed for several years, yet still struggling and persisting, refusing to close his eyes. He couldn’t forget those burning jealous gazes of the other three duke five marquis families when their Countship rose to the rank of Marquis, and the ‘bestowments’ that entered their manor like flowing water. He couldn’t forget the humiliation when his little niece wore ‘new on the outside but old on the inside’ clothes to participate in banquets, but got her clothes purposefully torn apart and wantonly ridiculed. He couldn’t forget seeing his nephews coming home from the academy always with a bloody nose and bruises. He couldn’t forget hearing them constantly asking him why. He couldn’t forget the married women of the manor, who cried their eyes blind and went deranged……

“The whole clan of the Fu family have always sacrificed themselves for the country. Why do they have such a coward like you, Fu Yun Ting? Timid and cowardly, can’t even compare to a little girl. Fu Yun Ting, the one that really should’ve died on the battlefields should’ve been you.”

Did they never come to think who it was that brought them their luxurious days?!

He really hated, hated that he couldn’t kill them all. Other than enduring, there was nothing he could do. Yet if he ever commits a wrong, it’ll give the one above something to use against him to pin a great offense onto him, eliminating him, this sole pillar. Then give Wu’an Marquis Manor bestowments to appease them. This is precisely the so called ‘cut the weed and eliminate the roots’, leaving behind the women, children, and elderly. How many times could his Majesty play like this? Look how perfectly his Majesty did, not damaging his prestige in the hearts of the commoners, even obtaining the good reputation of treating his officials who’ve given outstanding service well. And at the same time, he’d already let the Wu’an Marquis Manor become isolated and without help, freely allowing him to torment.

“Yun Ting, properly live on, there will inevitably be hope for the living. Perhaps there will be a turn for the better in the next moment. We can’t shrink back, if we shrink back there will be no more hope, do you understand?” That frail boney hand of his eldest uncle firmly grabbed onto him, as if wanting to break him.

He consented through running tears. That was the last time he cried.

From then on, Wu’an Marquis Manor became aloof, no longer bothering with outsiders. He, Fu Yun Ting, abandoned himself to a life of pleasure, and was unusually carefree.

Because of his situation, when he secretly attracted the attention of Jin Qinwang, and after experiencing Jin Qinwang’s out of the ordinary capabilities, he unhesitantly pledged his loyalty to him. Even if Jin Qinwang was displeased with him, letting him suffer countless times, he’d never thought of finding another master. Not only because of the others, no one was willing to use their Wu’an Marquis Manor, but more importantly, because aside from targeting him, this bit, Jin Qinwang was definitely considered a good master. As long as he wholeheartedly work for him, and as long as he doesn’t think of betraying him, Jin Qinwang has always been generous.

Towards Jin Qinwang, Fu Yun Ting actually still had one thing he was very confused about. According to his abilities, he completely didn’t need to pull along their Wu’an Marquis Manor. The current Wu’an Marquis Manor, rather than saying was his support, they might as well be said to be a burden. Just a slight moment of carelessness, and it will cause him to bring trouble to himself. Although for him, the possibility of getting expose was probably next to nothing. But the reason for this was equally unclear, just like why he always targeted him.

Fu Yun Ting properly put away the banknotes. Then he stood up and headed to the main courtyard to visit his eldest uncle. This was something he needed to do everyday, so as to not draw the spies’ suspicion.

Not long after Fu Yun Ting entered the Wu’an Marquis’s bedroom, his anxious howling voice sounded.

Wu’an Marquis, who has been lying on the bed terminally ill for several years, afraid, this time really won’t be able to make it!

The next day, Fu Yun Ting personally paid a visit to his fiancee’s home, hoping to shift the wedding date to an earlier date, or else, Wu’an Marquis might……..

The bride’s family were very fair and reasonable. If by chance the Wu’an Marquis passed, wouldn’t it also delay their family’s daughter, no? Thus the wedding date was changed to three days later.

Fu Yun Ting wiped his forehead. Master, considering how much effort this subordinate has put in, only ask for you to summon this subordinate a few times less.

[1] Wangye – Form of address for a qinwang

[2] The original term actually translates to ‘beautiful pamper’; I think it alludes to being like a male concubine.

[3] tongfang – Lowest rank of ‘concubine’; basically a servant girl one can sleep with

[4] Wangfei – Legal wife of a wang; similar princess consort position

[5] It’s a huge crime to sell or lose something bestowed by the Emperor; it’s equivalent to insulting the Emperor for not taking care of something he bestowed.

T/N: Although Fu Yun Ting is a very very important character to the plot, mostly in Li Hong Yuan’s past life, as a supporting character, I still find his backstory and character written out quite well. At least, relatively comparing to my experiences with other supporting characters in similar novels, they’re usually not this well developed.