Chapter 76: Sudden (2/2)

Even if she wanted to throttle Xia Zimo for not proposing, Duan Xinning’s wishes came first.

After all, matters of the heart were the hardest to untangle.

Now in Ancheng, Lin Ting’s first task was to meet Xia Zimo tomorrow.

The problem was where was Xia Zimo?

She didn’t know his exact location yet.

How was she supposed to find him?

Duan Ling had helped her get news of Xia Zimo but hadn’t specified his whereabouts, only confirming he’d arrived safely in Ancheng.

Lin Ting didn’t dare ask for details after all, Duan Xinning was far away in the capital and couldn’t come.

Knowing he was safe was enough; his exact location wasn’t necessary.

Duan Xinning had asked her to relay some messages or items to Xia Zimo, but that wouldn’t work either since Duan Ling could handle the delivery and communication, there was absolutely no need for her to meet Xia Zimo in Ancheng.

Lin Ting had to think of another way.

She glanced at Duan Ling, cleared her throat, and lowered her voice to ask, “Where are you meeting the Crown Prince and the Marquis later?”

Since Xia Zimo was likely accompanying the Marquis, knowing the Marquis’s location might lead her to him.

Duan Ling paused, his fingers tightening slightly around the spoon before he took a slow sip of soup.

Instead of answering, he countered, “Why? Do you want to come with me again?”

She denied it immediately.

“No, I was just asking casually. It’s fine if you can’t say.”

He finished the last dumpling, set down the spoon, and replied, “I can’t. The Crown Prince’s whereabouts are confidential, and so are the Marquis’s.”

“How long will you be gone?”

Duan Ling answered softly, “About an hour. I’ll take you to the residence first before meeting them.”

Before the Imperial Guards arrived, officials in Ancheng had already prepared a residence for them, so they could move in immediately.

That was why he had earlier instructed the guards to settle their belongings.

Lin Ting pointed to a teahouse nearby.

“Can I wait for you there? Staying alone in the residence would be too boring.”

This was true-she couldn’t stand being idle.

“You’re new to Ancheng and unfamiliar with the place. Should I assign a guard to accompany you?”

She refused at once.

“No need. I have knockout drugs and poison on me. Ordinary people can’t harm me. Just come find me at the teahouse when you’re done. I’ll listen to the storyteller while waiting.”

Duan Ling left money for the dumplings and handed her a heavy pouch before standing up.

“Alright, I’ll meet you at the teahouse after I’m done… You won’t go anywhere else, will you?”

“I won’t.”

As Duan Ling had said, she was a stranger in Ancheng and had no intention of wandering off.

She would simply wait for him at the teahouse.

Lin Ting watched as Duan Ling disappeared down the street.

The moment he vanished from sight, she headed straight for the teahouse.

Places like taverns and tea houses were always the best for gathering rumors.

Sure enough, shortly after settling in to listen to the storyteller, Lin Ting overheard the locals discussing the Crown Prince’s entourage— including Xia Zimo.

The Crown Prince had made a grand entrance when he arrived in Ancheng, with all the city officials turning out to greet him.

The ostentatious display was meant to reassure the people, signaling that the Crown Prince’s presence would ensure nothing went wrong in Ancheng.

Xia Zimo had been seen accompanying the Crown Prince, and some of the onlookers had taken notice-particularly because of his striking looks and status as a noble heir.

“That Lord Xia is exactly my type. I wonder if he’s betrothed,” one woman mused.

A companion laughed and dashed her hopes.

“He’s a noble heir-don’t even think about it.”

Lin Ting listened silently, thinking to herself that Xia Zimo was nothing more than a spineless scoundrel with a decent face and silver tongue-traits that had fooled Duan Xinning.

“I was just saying,” the woman replied breezily, unbothered by the teasing, before turning her attention back to the storyteller.

Their brief exchange about Xia Zimo yielded no useful information.

Suddenly, someone tapped her shoulder.

Lin Ting looked up to see a familiar, grotesque mask staring back at her.

“Jin Anazi?”

No one would wear such a mask these days.

Jin Anazi glanced at her briefly.

When they ran the bookstore business together, they’d often gather information at wine shops and teahouses.

Today, they happened to cross paths at the same teahouse, though Jin Anazi wasn’t particularly pleased to see Lin Ting in Ancheng.

After locking eyes, they spoke in unison:

“Why are you in Ancheng?”

Before Jin Anazi could answer, she thought of the Crown Prince and realized why he was here still relentless in his assassination attempts, trailing the Crown Prince all the way to Ancheng

He truly was persistent.

Jin Anazi could tell from Lin Ting’s expression that she’d guessed his purpose:

“Exactly what you’re thinking. But you still haven’t said why you’re here.”

“I followed Duan Ling.”

The visible part of Jin Anazi’s eyes filled with confusion.

After a pause, he asked, “You knew Ancheng was dangerous, yet you still came with Duan Ling?”

She had no defense.

Fine, let him think what he wanted.

Lin Ting grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and started cracking them, nodding absentmindedly.

“Mhm, mhm, you’re right.”

Jin Anazi: “…”

Lin Ting cracked the seeds rapidly, the noise giving Jin Anazi a headache.

For once, he spoke with rare patience:

“Something’s off about Ancheng. You should leave as soon as possible.”

She finished the handful of seeds.

“I don’t need you to tell me I can see that myself.”

Even if the Crown Prince himself were guarding Ancheng, the townsfolk shouldn’t be this calm, unafraid of rebels.

Where there’s abnormality, there’s trouble-Ancheng had problems.

Suddenly struck by inspiration, Lin Ting stood and pulled Jin Anazi into a secluded corner.

The scent of agarwood drifting from Lin Ting reminded Jin Anazi of something familiar.

His gaze fell on the sachet at her waist, lingering on the feather attached to it-Duan Ling’s?

He didn’t dwell on it, but the agarwood made it feel as if Duan Ling were right beside them.

Uncomfortable.

Lin Ting didn’t notice his discomfort.

“You’ve been tailing the Crown Prince’s entourage, right? Do you know where the Xia heir is staying?”

Jin Anazi hesitated, suspicion coloring his tone.

“Why are you asking about the Xia heir? Isn’t he the sweetheart of your close friend? Are you tracking him down for her? Is she in Ancheng too?”

“Don’t ask so many questions. If you know, say so. If not, just say no.”

Whenever Lin Ting was up to something, Duan Ling liked to ask for reasons and so did Jin Anazi.

The difference was, she could ignore Jin Anazi’s questions and didn’t care what he speculated.

Duan Ling was different-after all, they were married.

Knowing he wouldn’t pry an answer from her, Jin Anazi still replied truthfully:

“The Crown Prince and the Marquis are staying separately. I haven’t paid much attention to the Xia heir’s whereabouts.”

He added, “If you really want to know, I can look into it for you.”

Lin Ting naturally hoped he’d help.

Not only was he highly skilled in martial arts, but he also had countless underworld connections, making it easy to gather information.

“Can you find out by noon tomorrow?”

She needed to see Xia Zimo before then.

“Should be possible.”

With his assurance, Lin Ting relaxed slightly.

“Good. Tomorrow at noon, I’ll wait for you at this teahouse. Don’t stand me up.”

Jin Anazi circled back to their earlier topic.

“You really aren’t planning to leave Ancheng?”

Lin Ting sighed dramatically, feigning resignation.

“I can’t leave. Just worry about yourself-don’t bother me.”

She still had to fulfill…

The mission meant Ancheng was a must-stay for her.

Leaning against the wall with arms crossed, he asked, “So as long as Duan Ling doesn’t leave, you won’t either?”

Could he not paint her as some lovesick fool who’d throw her life away for romance?

But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that.

Lin Ting rubbed her temples and said, “Anyway, I’m not leaving. No need to persuade me further.”

Jin Anazi didn’t push her, just as she hadn’t tried to dissuade him from seeking revenge against the crown prince.

Respecting each other’s choices, even if he couldn’t understand hers.

“Fine then. Good luck to you.”

Lin Ting waved him off and returned to her seat in the teahouse.

“Be careful with your own affairs too.”

Jin Anazi didn’t linger.

She sat obediently in her chair, listening to the storyteller while waiting for Duan Ling.

Gradually, drowsiness crept in, and her head began to nod—until a hand caught it just before it dropped.

The moment her cheek touched that palm, Lin Ting jolted awake.

Blinking, she saw Duan Ling.

Had an hour already passed?

She glanced outside the sun had set.

Definitely more than an hour.

Time flew when napping.

Rubbing her eyes, she rose and followed Duan Ling to the residence arranged for him by Ancheng officials.

The estate stood in the northern part of the city-neither grand nor modest.

Past the gate, a carved arch bridge came into view, its red walls draped in vines.

Stone pathways flanked by flowers led to a small pond teeming with colorful fish.

It looked like a typical official’s residence-unpretentious yet far from shabby.

Servants had been assigned to the household.

They prepared dinner before guiding the couple to their quarters in the rear courtyard.

Lin Ting and Duan Ling shared a room, as married couples typically did unless circumstances dictated otherwise.

She was used to it by now, finding nothing unusual.

After her usual bath and change of clothes, she lay down.

Duan Ling, however, stepped outside to brief the imperial guards before returning much later to wash up.

Tonight, his bath took unusually long-nearly half an hour.

Puzzled, Lin Ting called out, “Aren’t you done yet?”

“Done.”

The moment he replied, she heard water sloshing as he stepped out of the tub, followed by the rustle of fabric.

She rolled onto her side.

Her nap at the teahouse had left her wide awake now.

Just as she considered a stroll in the courtyard, the room’s candles flickered out.

Duan Ling climbed into bed.

Was it her imagination, or was his breathing slightly uneven?

Listening closely, it seemed normal again.

For a second, she’d feared another episode was coming.

Too restless to sleep yet unwilling to disturb him, Lin Ting sat up.

“You’re turning in? I’m still awake-I’ll just take a walk outside”

Before she could finish, Duan Ling’s lips sealed hers in a kiss.

She froze.

So sudden?

Then surrendered to it.

After an unknown length of time kissing, he suddenly stopped, his gaze falling beneath the waistband of her skirt.

His fingertips lightly traced along, restraining the sudden surge of desire:

“I want to kiss you. Would you let me?”

Lin Ting was dazed from the lack of oxygen, her reactions sluggish.

Kiss her?

Wasn’t he already kissing her?

So she gave a soft “Mm,” only to see Duan Ling retreat to her ankles, lift the hem of her skirt, delve into the deepest part, and press his lips against the place she had just washed.