Chapter 103 (2/2): It’s useless, forget it.

“Rest more.” Li Jingqiu cut her off, ignoring what Lin Ting wanted to say.

She left immediately to inquire about Doctor Ling’s whereabouts, refusing to let Lin Ting and Duan Ling see her out, only letting Tao Zhu accompany her.

Lin Ting watched Li Jingqiu’s departing figure.

Her hand, resting at her side, clenched and then relaxed.

She asked Duan Ling, “What did the doctor say today?”

“The doctor said you don’t have much time left.”

Duan Ling tidied Lin Ting’s disheveled hair, unwilling to say more.

“You haven’t eaten lunch yet. You must be hungry. Want something to eat?”

Lin Ting pinched her sleeve, not answering but instead said, “Sorry for scaring you all.”

He seemed amused, eyes crinkling.

“You couldn’t control fainting; it’s not your fault. No need to apologize. You haven’t wronged anyone.”

Lin Ting lowered her head.

When she saw Li Jingqiu and Tao Zhu crying earlier, she almost cried too.

But she held back, knowing that if they saw her cry, they’d think she was afraid and become even sadder.

After all, death was like a heavy stone pressing down on them.

She pushed hard but couldn’t move it.

To bear it was as hard as it was unbearable.

Lin Ting looked at Duan Ling.

He rose to fetch servants to bring food but hadn’t gone far before Lin Ting’s hand reached from behind to grab his wrist.

He turned.

Lin Ting looked up, gripping tightly until Duan Ling’s exposed wrist reddened.

Her gaze locked on his face, hesitating, “If I die, you…”

Duan Ling: “You won’t die.”

She was stunned.

“But didn’t the doctor say today that I don’t have much time left?”

After all this, Duan Ling still refused to believe she would die.

Li Jingqiu and the others hadn’t accepted it yet because it was just revealed.

Duan Ling had sensed it on the journey back from Ancheng to Jingcheng and confirmed a month ago that she might die.

Lin Ting lowered her eyes.

A bitter pain spread from her heart to every limb.

Duan Ling bent down to her level, lips curving into a faint smile that looked good on him.

He spoke softly, “You won’t die. I won’t let you die.”

Lin Ting felt an inexplicable unease.

“Life and death are fate, heaven’s decree. No need to take it too seriously.”

She had said similar things to Duan Ling before.

Duan Ling leaned in and kissed her forehead lightly.

His fingers brushed the silken strands falling to her shoulders, slowly winding them around.

“Then I will try to defy fate and change your destiny.”

Lin Ting’s unease deepened.

“What do you mean?”

At that moment, a voice cut in.

“Second Brother, is Leyun awake?” followed by urgent knocking.

‘Duan Xinning?’

Lin Ting was about to get out of bed to open the door, but Duan Ling pressed her hand down and said, “The door isn’t locked. Just come in.”

Duan Xinning pushed open the door, tears streaming as she hurried inside.

“Leyun, I had a nightmare again.”

She came immediately after Lin Ting woke, hoping the fainting was just a dream.

Zhilan followed behind helplessly.

Lin Ting had just wiped Li Jingqiu’s tears; now she wiped Duan Xinning’s.

Seeing their silence, Duan Xinning realized it wasn’t a dream and broke into sobs.

Lin Ting, fearing too much crying would affect the baby, changed the subject: “I’m hungry.”

Before long, the servants brought lunch.

Lin Ting pulled Duan Ling and Duan Xinning to eat with her.

She had fainted during lunch, so none of them had eaten yet.

Most importantly, Duan Xinning was pregnant and couldn’t skip meals.

Lin Ting picked up a chicken leg and offered it to Duan Xinning.

“Why are you just standing there? Eat.”

Duan Xinning bit into it through tears.

Lin Ting also picked a chicken leg for Duan Ling—sharing evenly was important.

Duan Ling glanced at her, full of life now though moments before she nearly wouldn’t wake.

His gaze darkened slightly as his fingers holding the jade chopsticks whitened with pressure, yet he ate.

After the meal, Duan Xinning stayed until nightfall before leaving.

The moment she left, Li Jingqiu arrived with Doctor Ling.

With no other choice, Lin Ting let the countryside Doctor take her pulse.

She had lost count of how many doctors had examined her—she felt she would continue seeing them until death.

While Doctor Ling took her pulse, Li Jingqiu nervously stood nearby and asked. “Doctor, how is she?”

“Madam, please don’t be anxious.” Doctor Ling had barely touched Lin Ting’s hand with the cloth between them when Li Jingqiu asked.

Li Jingqiu realized she was too eager.

After finishing, Doctor Ling said nothing, only shook her head at Li Jingqiu.

Lin Ting saw this and guessed Li Jingqiu asked the doctor not to say anything ominous in front of her.

If the diagnosis was bad, the doctor would only shake her head.

Duan Ling showed little reaction, as if he had already expected this result.

Li Jingqiu was shattered.

Fearing she’d lose control in front of her daughter and son-in-law, she forced herself to say, “I’ll find another doctor another day. It’s late now, I’ll go back first.”

Lin Ting tried to stop her.

“Mother, stay here tonight. There are plenty of rooms in the Duan residence.”

Li Jingqiu refused, saying she had an appointment tomorrow afternoon at the Lin Family, also about finding doctors, and would return then.

Lin Ting didn’t force her and personally saw her out.

After watching Li Jingqiu leave, Lin Ting faced Duan Ling, touched his hand, mood heavy.

“I don’t want to go. Carry me back to the room.”

Duan Ling turned his back, half-squatted.

Lin Ting immediately leaned on him, arms around his neck.

Her head tilted, chin resting on his shoulder, breath warm against his pale neck.

Suddenly, “Duan Ling.”

“Mm.”

“Duan Ziyu.”

He paused, “Mm.”

Her gaze dropped to the shadow cast on the ground—hers draped over Duan Ling’s.

***

The next morning, news of the Empress’s death spread quickly throughout Jingcheng.

Starting tomorrow, the people of Great Yan were required to wear mourning clothes for three days.

Even the servants in Lin Ting’s courtyard were discussing it.

She didn’t have to step outside to know.

When Lin Ting had visited the Empress yesterday, she felt the other woman wouldn’t live much longer.

The Empress was too haggard, visibly ill to the bone.

Though Lin Ting would also soon die, it would be the System’s doing—without pain and with the chance of resurrection.

The Empress was truly sick, truly gone, vanished from this world.

Lin Ting’s emotions were complicated.

She stood by the windowsill, watching the nearly bare tree shed its leaves.

The colder it got, the more leaves fell.

Servants swept the fallen leaves.

Duan Ling entered from outside and said, “I found a doctor and got some medicine for you.”

Lin Ting sat down on the Luohan Couch, resigned and waiting for death.

“There’s no cure for me. No medicine will help.”

He said calmly, “If you don’t try, how will you know if it works?”

She didn’t want to oppose him and reluctantly agreed to try once.

“I’ll only drink it once. If it doesn’t work, you’re not allowed to make me take any more medicine.”

He agreed, “Alright.”

Lin Ting looked at Duan Ling’s empty hands and then behind him—no servant carrying medicine followed.

“Where’s the medicine?”

“If you’re going to die soon, just drink it all in one go.”

He smiled gently, eyes reflecting scattered sunlight and her.

“The medicine isn’t ready yet. Wait another half hour.”

“Okay, I’ll wait.”

While waiting, Lin Ting dozed off.

When she woke, Duan Ling was gone.

Asking the servants, she learned he had gone to the small kitchen to get the medicine.

Something felt off.

The servant could have gone to get the medicine.

Why did Duan Ling go himself?

Lin Ting headed toward the small kitchen and met Duan Ling on the way.

He carried a bowl of red-black medicine.

“Why are you out here?”

Lin Ting stepped beside him.

“I was looking for you. Is this the medicine I’m supposed to drink?”

Duan Ling handed it over.

“Yes.”

She took it but didn’t immediately drink.

He raised his eyes, the sunlight reflected in them.

He smiled and asked, “Why not drink? It’s not hot anymore.”

Lin Ting: “What’s in the medicine?”

He stopped smiling.

She smashed the bowl onto the ground and grabbed his hand, pulling back his sleeve and wrist.

A fresh bloody cut crawled across old faded scars, the flesh twisted and snarled.

“You’re crazy. Even if you’re a Medicine Man, your blood is of no use to me.”

Duan Ling looked at the shattered porcelain and the darkened stone floor soaked with medicine, and he let out a low laugh.

“No use? Then forget it.”