Chapter 144: The Tender Side of Zhang Yurou

After packing everything Aguda had prepared according to Ding Li's instructions in the courtyard, Zhang Mingzhi led Fan Ying, who had come from the military camp next to the residence, to the back courtyard. Several of Fan Ying's subordinates accompanied them, but the things loaded on the backs of the mounts they led into the mansion surprised Ding Li and the others greatly. They were sets of battle armor that had clearly been carefully polished, their scale plates shimmering with silvery light under the bright moonlight.

"Put these on. Captain Fan will personally lead you out of the city in a moment!" Zhang Mingzhi nodded at Ding Li, pointed at the mounts, and explained in a deep voice. Then he turned to Fan Ying beside him, made a gesture of invitation, and continued with a solemn expression, "Captain Fan, let's go to the front and have a cup of tea first!"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare! Second Master, please lead the way!" The "dare not" in Fan Ying's mouth did not refer to drinking tea, but rather to the respect he owed Zhang Mingzhi, which he dared not accept face-to-face. He hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed in response.

The method of leaving the city after changing into garrison light armor truly astonished Ding Li and the others. Yet, beyond the astonishment, there was even greater appreciation for the local influence of the Zhang Clan's mercantile house. To easily obtain garrison light armor and even enlist the help of an officer of Fan Ying's standing within the garrison made the men, who had hurriedly changed into the light armor, emit wave after wave of deep sighs.

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, the Period of Chou was about to pass, and the fifteen brothers previously arranged by Ludachi arrived at the Zhang residence right on time. With expressions of astonishment similar to those of Ding Li and the others shortly before, these fifteen Mongolian youths quickly changed into the prepared light armor. Then, led by Ding Li and leading the mounts loaded to the brim with bags and bundles, they grandly departed from the Zhang residence.

Everything Ding Li and the others did took place in the back courtyard, primarily to maintain strict confidentiality. Even when they left the Zhang residence, neither Zhang Mingzhi nor Uncle Xiang appeared. Instead, Fan Ying, who came to bid the two farewell along with a dozen of his trusted guards, rendezvoused with Ding Li and the others outside the mansion.

"Brother Li, can we set off? It is getting late!" Standing on the stone steps outside the mansion gate, Fan Ying waved his guards away, cupped his fists slightly toward Ding Li, and reminded him in a deep voice.

"We can. Let's set off! Thank you for your trouble, Brother Fan and brothers! Having to accompany us out at this late hour!" Ding Li nodded, solemnly cupped his hands to return the salute to Fan Ying, and just as he raised one foot to step forward, a voice like a nightingale's song, melodious yet laden with lingering grievance, rang out from within the mansion gate behind him.

"Brother Li..."

Hearing this, Ding Li's body shook violently. His feelings regarding this call were extremely complex. Standing outside the mansion gate earlier without leaving immediately, it seemed as though he had been waiting precisely for this sound, yet upon hearing it, his heart became entangled in inner conflict. For a moment, his legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and he was even unable to turn around.

Fortunately, Fan Ying keenly sensed the abnormality of the situation. Quickly casting a glance at Ding Li's expression, he hurriedly cupped his hands and bowed to Zhang Yurou, who was walking out from the mansion gate. Then, stepping back swiftly, he whispered a reminder to Ding Li: "Brother Li, we will go ahead. You can catch up shortly afterwards!"

"Set off!" Just as his feet reached the edge of the stone steps, the bowing and head-lowering Fan Ying suddenly spun around. Striding down the steps, he raised his arm, waved it toward the crowd, and issued a loud command.

Seemingly due to Fan Ying leading the others away, Ding Li suddenly felt the pressure from his surroundings lessen significantly. His body involuntarily turned around slowly. Looking at Zhang Yurou, who was right before his eyes, Ding Li's mind suddenly flashed with the intimate scene of the two of them from the previous night, and he subconsciously stepped back slightly. At the same time, however, he softly opened his mouth: "Rou, Sister Rou..."

"Call me Yurou!" Zhang Yurou interrupted Ding Li without giving him a choice. Her tone was not loud, but it was filled with an irresistible magic. Even Ding Li, standing right opposite her, could not help nodding in agreement, though he did not speak immediately. Seeing this, Zhang Yurou slightly turned her head to sweep a glance at the servants, who had all hidden within the mansion out of fear of disturbing the two of them. Reassured, she actually reached out her hand to adjust the collar of Ding Li's robe. Throughout all this, her gaze consistently revealed deep affection. Finally, resting one arm on Ding Li's shoulder and raising her beautiful eyes, she smiled warmly, her gentle tone seemingly capable of melting everything: "Be careful on the road. I will always wait for you to return!"

With that, before Ding Li could reply, Zhang Yurou suddenly pressed two slender, delicate jade fingers against his slightly parted lips, smiled softly, and her eyes revealed an unspeakable hope. Then, parting her red lips, she said, "Go, don't say anything! Compared to disappointment, I would rather never have seen hope at all!"

Hearing this, Ding Li's body shook violently. Zhang Yurou's words were like a sharp knife piercing deeply into his heart. Everything that had happened the previous night flashed vividly in his mind one by one. Yet, despite this, Zhang Yurou had not made a single demand. Moreover, from her deep, clear, and even somewhat glittering eyes, Ding Li could tell that she was not putting on a facade.

Even so, Ding Li did not dare to make promises rashly. Even though an extraordinary relationship had developed between them the previous night, Zhang Yurou's words made Ding Li even more afraid to promise anything. What he was about to face right now was a major undertaking, and once it was completed, he needed to return to Guangzhou Prefecture immediately. Counting the time, three days had already passed, and Fat Man Jin should have news regarding Liu Fu, the boss of the smuggling merchant ships he had been asked to investigate.

"Yu, Yurou..." Thinking of all this, Ding Li, though not daring to promise lightly, knew he had to say something. Although calling her by this new name felt very awkward, he braced himself and let it out. Swallowing hard a few times as his throat bobbed, Ding Li suddenly noticed deep anticipation welling up in Zhang Yurou's eyes, and his heart immediately tangled in distress. In the end, he steeled himself and continued with the words that had reached his lips: "There, there are some urgent matters in Guangzhou Prefecture. I, I will come to see you again when I have time..."

As Ding Li's words fell, the anticipation in Zhang Yurou's eyes vanished abruptly. Yet, just as a hint of disappointment was about to surface, she forcefully suppressed it. Although this answer deeply disappointed her, she knew that the task Ding Li was about to undertake carried a certain degree of danger, and she did not want her emotions to disturb his state of mind. Furthermore, deep down, Zhang Yurou was certain that, to a certain extent, she still held sway over Ding Li.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yurou suddenly recalled Liu Sheng in Guangzhou Prefecture, and an unyielding spirit rose within her heart. Since Liu Sheng could allow Ding Li to strive forward so peacefully and unreservedly, Zhang Yurou was all the more determined not to be outdone by her in this aspect. A gentle smile slowly bloomed at the corners of her lips. Gazing reluctantly at Ding Li, she looked toward the nearby mounts and once again gently exhorted, "Be careful on the road, and make sure you return safely!"

"I will! There won't be any danger!" Seeing this, Ding Li felt an inexplicable wave of relief. Although he could not fathom what Zhang Yurou was truly thinking, her reaction allowed him to completely cast aside all inhibitions. For a moment, his entire body relaxed significantly. Nodding heavily toward Zhang Yurou, a confident smile surfaced at the corners of his mouth—an ordinary-looking smile that left Zhang Yurou stunned in her tracks, her gaze remaining somewhat dazed even until Ding Li turned, descended the stone steps, and leaped onto his horse's back.

"Someone! Escort the Eldest Miss back to the mansion!" Although the entrance of the Zhang residence was quite safe at the moment, Ding Li still shouted a concerned reminder to the servants inside the gate. Cupping his hands toward Zhang Yurou from the horseback, he gathered the reins, kicked his heels against the stirrups, and plunged into the dark night without looking back.

Although Fan Ying and his group did not travel very fast, Ding Li seemed to have lingered for too long. The journey to the North City Gate, which should have taken only the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, took a full one and a half incense sticks instead. Seeing the city gate drawing near, the anxious Fan Ying finally heard the crisp sound of hooves echoing from the bluestone street behind him.

"Ah, you've finally caught up!" Fan Ying cast a somewhat helpless glance behind him, turned his horse back around, and headed toward the city gate. Ludachi and Aguda, whose hearts had been hanging by a thread all the way, finally felt at ease, while Heizi immediately turned his horse's head and trotted out to meet Ding Li.

"Brother Li! I truly admire you! Daring to be so intimate with the eldest miss of the Zhang family right at the mansion's entrance for so long! You simply don't take Second Master and Uncle Xiang seriously at all!" Ignoring Ding Li's astonished expression, Heizi spurred his horse closer, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke without holding back, though a mischievous smile played across his face. Ding Li could tell that Heizi's words held no malice.

Seeing Ding Li shoot him an indifferent sidelong glance, Heizi was momentarily stunned before continuing: "What? Brother Li, do you know that back in the day, even Cao Mingxiang, who wanted to marry into the family, didn't dare do what you just did? Let alone daring to linger at Second Master's gate like this for so long—he didn't even have the guts back then!"

"What does that have to do with me? Are you saying I'm inferior to that Cao Mingxiang?" Ding Li gave Heizi another sideways glance, pulled on the reins to steer his horse away, and blocked Heizi from cutting in front. Seeing the fellow urge his mount forward again to bar the way, Ding Li glared at him. Under Heizi's sheepish grin, the two rode side by side, and Ding Li picked up where he left off: "Heizi, tell me, if the Eldest Miss asked you to speak with her outside the mansion gate, what would you do? Would you just abandon the Eldest Miss and walk straight away? Would that be taking Second Master and Uncle Xiang seriously? Shall we make a bet? I think walking away directly would get you killed even faster!"

"Th-this is different! It's not the same thing at all!" Hearing this, Heizi was momentarily rendered speechless, yet somehow Ding Li's words seemed to make sense. Pausing for a moment, Heizi looked at the triumphant expression lingering on Ding Li's face, muttered a few dissatisfied complaints under his breath, yanked his reins with a grudge, and spurred his mount to speed up and catch up with the main group ahead.

When the guards at the North City Gate saw that Fan Ying was leading the party personally, they opened the city gate and let them pass without even conducting the routine inspections. After all, Fan Ying's status among the several thousand garrison troops in Fuxu Town could not be underestimated, especially since his position had been earned entirely through fierce combat on the battlefield.

After traveling a short distance away from Fuxu Town, Fan Ying, who was familiar with the terrain, took the lead and veered onto a narrow path. After riding for another stretch, he slowly reined in his mount, leaped out of the saddle, and cupped his fists toward Ding Li—who had also dismounted—saying, "Brother Li, this is far enough. I often lead the brothers along this path, and generally, no one comes this way. Moreover, in the dead of night, from this point onward, Brother Ludachi should know the remaining road!"

"Many thanks, Brother Fan!" Ding Li nodded, cupped his fists in return, waved a hand toward the group, and ordered in a deep voice, "Dismount and change your clothes! Brothers, move quickly, time is pressing!"