This time, returning to Jingcheng, the Crown Prince naturally brought along the Princess, who had left the capital without permission and come to Ancheng.
At this moment, the Princess sat at a table by the window downstairs, holding a wine cup in her hand.
The slanting sunlight poured in, illuminating the golden floral forehead ornament on her brow and the thickly applied rouge on her lips.
Her purple dress trailed slightly on the floor.
Lin Ting came down from upstairs and the first person she saw was the Princess, who had been drinking since early morning.
The strong scent of wine filled the main hall of the Courier Station.
“Your Highness.” Lin Ting greeted the Princess with a respectful but composed bow as she passed by.
The Princess withdrew her gaze from the window outside, lifting the painted corner of her eyes as she looked toward Lin Ting and Duan Ling.
Her ruby lips curled slightly.
She quietly repeated the words “Your Highness,” then said, “Seventh Miss Lin, Duan Deputy Commander.”
The favored companion standing behind the Princess immediately bowed low to them, his posture humble, fully showing his status as her male consort.
He echoed their titles with deference, “Seventh Miss Lin, Duan Deputy Commander.”
Before Lin Ting could leave, the Crown Prince came downstairs as well.
Seeing the Princess drinking without regard for the occasion, he frowned.
“Daiyang.”
Daiyang casually swirled her wine cup and asked, “Brother Crown Prince, will you have a drink?”
Her consort eagerly poured wine for her.
The Crown Prince’s brow furrowed deeper, clearly displeased with Daiyang’s behavior.
If it were another princess, he wouldn’t interfere, but Daiyang was his full sister—he had to keep her in check.
“If Father knew that you…”
Daiyang laughed loudly.
After laughing, she tilted her head back and finished the wine in her cup.
“Father now only cares about alchemy, chasing immortality, and doesn’t even care that the Fourth Brother has gone missing. Fourth Brother is Father’s most ‘beloved’ son, yet Father won’t even bother with him, so how would he care about me? Brother, you worry too much.”
Lin Ting quietly pulled Duan Ling a step back.
The Fourth Brother Daiyang mentioned was the Prince of Liang, who had been recklessly killed by Duan Ling.
Duan Ling remained unperturbed.
He had killed many people in Zhaoyu, mostly royal family members and officials.
To others, the Prince of Liang might represent royal authority, but to Duan Ling, he was just an ordinary man with nothing special about him.
The Crown Prince stepped forward, snatched the wine jug from the consort’s hand, and threw it out the window, refusing to let him pour more wine for Daiyang.
“Fourth Brother just went missing, and Father immediately sent the Imperial Guard to investigate. How could he have ignored it?”
The consort hastily knelt down.
Daiyang threw away her cup as well, speaking bluntly despite Lin Ting and Duan Ling still being present: “But Fourth Brother’s whereabouts are still unknown. Aside from sending the Imperial Guard to investigate, what else has Father done? Nothing. He stays in the Alchemy Chamber all day…”
The Crown Prince shot them a glance and scolded her sharply, “Silence! Do you think you can speak of Father like that?”
Daiyang seemed drunk, unable to hold back her words.
“Brother, did I say anything wrong? Father’s heart is filled only with the pursuit of immortality and the Empress. Where is there any space for us children?”
She swayed as she stood.
“I just don’t understand why Father favors the Empress so much. She’s sickly, old, past her prime, and has no children. Is it just because she can foresee the future through divination?”
Lin Ting was slightly stunned.
Before the founding of the Great Yan, the Empress had been more like a strategist, assisting Emperor Jiade in building the empire.
This was well-known, but no one had ever mentioned that the Empress could foresee the future through divination.
Lin Ting fell into thought and recalled things the Empress had done—such as suggesting that women be allowed to establish their own households and introducing the custom of pre-wedding portraits.
Piece by piece, everything connected in Lin Ting’s mind, forming an absurd idea.
The Crown Prince immediately summoned someone, “The Princess is drunk. Take her downstairs to sober up.”
After Daiyang was taken away, he acted as if nothing had happened.
“Duan Deputy Commander, prepare to depart.”
Duan Ling remained calm, as if nothing had occurred, and walked out of the Courier Station with Lin Ting.
Lin Ting got into Duan Ling’s carriage—it was his request.
However, since she had accompanied Duan Xinning all day yesterday, today it was Duan Ling’s turn.
Lin Ting did not object and sent someone to inform Duan Xinning.
Since they were not traveling alone, Lin Ting could not leave immediately after boarding the carriage; they had to wait for the Crown Prince and Princess to join them.
She lifted the curtain to look toward the Courier Station gate and happened to see Daiyang stepping out.
Daiyang had probably taken something to sober up.
Though her cheeks still held a faint flush from the wine, her gaze was no longer unfocused.
The consort carefully supported her, “Princess, please walk slowly.”
Lin Ting wanted to ask Daiyang about the Empress, to find out if she was like her, but now was clearly not the right time.
She lowered the curtain and her gaze gradually drifted to Duan Ling sitting beside her.
“Is what the Princess said true? Can the Empress foresee the future through divination?”
Anyone else would be curious after hearing this, so it was not surprising that Lin Ting was intrigued.
Duan Ling took out a blanket, covered her and said, “I don’t know if the Empress can truly foresee the future through divination, but she has indeed predicted some future events correctly.”
When Emperor Jiade had matters, he would entrust the Imperial Guard or Eastern Depot to handle them.
Duan Ling had noticed some irregularities, like the Emperor seeming to know in advance where trouble would arise, directing the Imperial Guard accordingly.
Lin Ting nestled into the blanket, only her head visible.
“What else?”
Duan Ling said, “The Empress rarely leaves her quarters, and little news about her ever leaks out. The Imperial Guard is ordered to monitor royal family members, but not the Empress. Moreover, Emperor Jiade protects her well.”
In other words, even he didn’t know much.
Lin Ting tilted her head and lay down on his lap, reaching beside her for snacks but found nothing.
Duan Ling moved the plate of Osmanthus Cakes over to her hand.
She ate while asking, muffled, “Does His Majesty truly dote on the Empress that much?”
Throughout history, emperors were often cold-hearted, even acting for political gain.
Their favor toward consorts could be full of calculation, their actions hard to tell as sincere or feigned.
Duan Ling’s eyelashes lowered as he looked at Lin Ting.
Her long hair was half pinned up, with a few strands loose, now draped over his crimson robe, the silk ribbons brushing against his hand resting nearby.
He said casually, “His Majesty does seem to dote on the Empress.”
Lin Ting raised her hand and deftly fed him a piece of the sweet-smelling Osmanthus Cake.
“Did you send someone to buy this?”
Duan Ling nodded, “Yes, I instructed the Courier Station staff to buy it this morning.”
Lin Ting wiped the crumbs from her fingers with a handkerchief and yawned drowsily.
“Sleepy, I’ll rest a bit first.”
“Sleepy again?”
She closed her eyes. “You woke me before dawn, so of course I’m sleepy.”
Before long, Lin Ting fell asleep.
Duan Ling watched her sleep like this, his gaze roaming over her face, tracing her features again and again.
Even with her eyes closed, the striking sharpness of her brows and eyes was undeniable—his favorite eyes hidden beneath delicate lids.
Once they arrived in Jingcheng, Lin Ting first returned to the Lin Family to see her mother, Li Jingqiu.
Duan Xinning, heavily pregnant and unable to visit, was escorted back to the Duan Family by the Imperial Guard.
Li Jingqiu only knew Lin Ting would return to Jingcheng in the coming days but did not know exactly when.
So when she saw her, she was stunned, thinking she was dreaming.
“I’m not dreaming, am I?”
Lin Ting hugged Li Jingqiu and pressed her face close.
For some reason, there was a special scent on her mother that was comforting and soothing.
“You’re not dreaming. I’m back.”
Once she was sure it was really Lin Ting, Li Jingqiu snatched the broom from a servant’s hand and began to swat at her.
“You, Lin Leyun! You still know how to come back. You ran off with Ziyu to Ancheng without a word. Were you afraid Yan Wangye wouldn’t accept you?”
Lin Ting nimbly dodged, avoiding the broom.
“Mother, I know I was wrong. But I came back safe and sound, didn’t I?”
“What if you hadn’t?”
Li Jingqiu had been holding in her anger for a long time ever since hearing Lin Ting had gone to Ancheng, constantly worried something might happen.
“I know you’re brave, but I didn’t expect you’d be this reckless. Are you trying to drive me mad?”
While she spoke, the broom still swung about, and servants couldn’t stop her.
Lin Ting jumped and dodged.
“I care about my life more than anyone. I would never let myself get hurt.”
Li Jingqiu was speechless.
“You’re all talk. I wonder who you get that from.”
Lin Ting hid behind a large tree in the courtyard, grinning cheekily.
“Who else? Of course, from you, Mother.”
Li Jingqiu snapped, “Lin Leyun, come here! If I don’t teach you a lesson today, you’ll have no respect for me as your mother.”
Lin Ting wasn’t going to obediently go out and get hit.
She smirked and quipped, “Mother, calm down. I came back to see you as soon as I got to Jingcheng. How could I not have you in my heart? You’re all I see.”
Li Jingqiu wasn’t about to be swayed by a few sweet words.
Although she liked Duan Ling as a son-in-law and was happy about the marriage, as a mother she selfishly hoped Lin Ting would put herself first when she was in love.
Li Jingqiu didn’t blame Duan Ling because she knew Lin Ting’s nature.
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