Chapter 82: Being Taken Away (2/2)

Lin Ting walked to the table and poured herself tea.

If her captors had wanted her dead, they would have killed her already. 

Poisoning the tea would be unnecessary.

After drinking, she eyed the tent flap, clearly guarded, and refrained from rash actions. 

Returning to her seat, she pondered who had taken her-Ta Xuening, whom she had just met yesterday? 

Yet something told her it wasn’t him.

She studied the tent again.

It was slightly translucent, confirming it was daytime. 

Her stomach wasn’t particularly hungry, meaning she had only been unconscious overnight and held captive for a short time.

She had no idea whether Duan Ling had noticed her abduction. 

It couldn’t be such a coincidence that he was too busy to return to the residence all night.

Forget it. 

Self-rescue was the most reliable option.

Lin Ting was about to peek outside through the tent flap when she heard someone approaching. 

She hurriedly lay back on the bed, pulling the covers over herself to feign sleep.

The tent flap was lifted, and sunlight spilled in, casting a tall silhouette on the ground.

She pricked up her ears to listen.

The footsteps approaching the bed were deliberately light, as if afraid of waking her.

Lin Ting controlled her breathing, keeping her eyes shut and remaining still. 

She could sense the person standing by the bed, watching her. 

Strangely, they lingered for about half an hour without leaving.

Her intuition told her it was a man.

Suddenly, he raised his hand slightly, and Lin Ting felt the movement. 

Worried he might change his mind and kill her, she abandoned the pretense and opened her eyes immediately.

Never in her wildest dreams did she expect to meet Xie Qinghe’s refined and handsome face.

Lin Ting stared at him in disbelief. 

“Fifth Young Master Xie? Was it you who sent people to abduct me last night?” 

No wonder she had been confined in a military tent instead of a house-this must be the rebel camp.

Xie Qinghe withdrew his half-raised hand and called out apologetically, “Seventh Miss Lin.”

Lin Ting rolled off the bed, not bothering with her disheveled hair. 

“Tell me the truth-did you order my abduction last night?” She needed an answer.

“No.”

Still skeptical, Lin Ting pressed further, “Then why am I here? Did you rescue me?”

After a brief silence, he replied, “The one who abducted you was a general under my command.”

Lin Ting was baffled. 

“Why would he abduct me?” 

She held no special status-unless it was to threaten Duan Ling. 

Though he was an Imperial Guard, his mission in Ancheng was merely to gather intelligence for Emperor Jiade, not to interfere directly in the war.

Xie Qinghe hesitated before explaining, “He wanted to persuade Jin Anazi-as the former dynasty’s prince-to join our rebellion. But Jin Anazi refused.”

That sounded exactly like Jin Anazi’s temperament, so she wasn’t surprised. 

She waited for him to continue.

Xie Qinghe lowered his gaze. 

“The general overheard me and Xia Zimo mention you. He learned of your acquaintance with Jin Anazi and misunderstood your relationship. He intended to use you to force Jin Anazi into rebellion.”

So it was because of Jin Anazi. 

Lin Ting could understand why rebels would want a legitimate figurehead to bolster their cause, but understanding didn’t mean approval. 

“Didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t force Jin Anazi to do anything against his will?”

He met her eyes. 

“I keep my word. Of course, I wouldn’t force him to rebel.”

Lin Ting pieced it together. 

“So you’re saying this general acted without your or Xia Zimo’s knowledge, sneaking into the city last night to abduct me.”

Given that Xia Zimo had already defected, the rebels must have had detailed intelligence on Ancheng. 

That was how they could infiltrate the city undetected, abduct her, and leave without raising alarms.

Xie Qinghe nodded, “Correct.”

Lin Ting headed for the exit. 

“Fine, I believe you weren’t involved. Can I leave now?”

“Not yet.”

Her suspicion flared again. 

“What do you mean, ‘not yet’?”

He looked uneasy. 

“Seventh Miss Lin, that general holds considerable influence in the army. I must first persuade him before I can let you go. Otherwise, I fear he might harm you.”

Lin Ting scoffed. 

“You’re their leader. Would they dare disobey your orders?”

Xie Qinghe was very patient with her: 

“He has fought side by side with my father for many years and became sworn brothers long ago. You could say he’s like a second father to me. After my father passed away, the Xie Army followed him.” 

He had been there since the founding of the Xie Army.

Seeing the sincerity in Xie Qinghe’s eyes, she finally believed him: 

“You’re quite the powerless leader, aren’t you? What if you can’t persuade him? I can’t stay here forever.”

He replied earnestly, “I’m sorry.”

Lin Ting was agitated: 

“I don’t want your apologies. Give me a deadline-I can’t wait too long.” 

Even though staying with them meant she could gather information about Xia Zimo and see him anytime, Duan Ling…

No, it just wasn’t an option.

Xie Qinghe proposed a timeframe: 

“Three days. How does that sound?”

Lin Ting disagreed, “Three days is too long. One day. Whether you convince him or not, you have to let me go by tomorrow.”

Seeing her insistence, Xie Qinghe agreed, even though he wasn’t confident he could persuade him in just one day: 

“Alright, I promise. Whether I succeed or not, you’ll be free to leave tomorrow.”

After talking so much, Lin Ting’s throat felt dry. 

She took another sip of tea: “Where is Jin Anazi now? I want to see him.”

He sought her opinion: “I can arrange a meeting for you tonight. Would that work?”

“Fine.”

Xie Qinghe stepped out briefly and returned with a tray of still-warm food: 

“I know you might not have much appetite, but you should eat something.”

She actually did feel hungry, she thought to herself.

Lin Ting took the tray but hesitated before picking up her chopsticks. 

Cautiously, she asked, “Young Master Xie, did you cook this?”

Xie Qinghe had been too busy lately to find time for cooking: 

“No. If you’d like a meal prepared by me, I can make one for you right away.” 

He moved to take the tray back.

She stopped him: “No need to trouble yourself. I’ll just eat this.”

“My apologies for the poor hospitality.”

As long as it wasn’t Xie Qinghe’s cooking, Lin Ting-who never skipped meat-would have even been willing to eat plain steamed buns. 

To exaggerate a bit, she wasn’t afraid of poison in the food-she was afraid it was made by him.

Once she confirmed the meal wasn’t his handiwork, Lin Ting relaxed and ate heartily.

Xie Qinghe had initially worried that being confined would ruin her appetite, but to his surprise, she finished everything. 

He vaguely recalled her mentioning at the study that she usually ate very little.

Lin Ting stood up and pointed outside the tent: “Can I go for a walk?”

Xie Qinghe glanced in the direction she pointed and hesitated: 

“This is a military camp, a restricted area. I’m afraid that won’t be possible.

Please understand.”

“Oh.”

He apologized again: “I’m sorry.”

Lin Ting: “Oh.”

Xie Qinghe grew uneasy: “Are you upset, Miss Lin?”

Crossing her arms, Lin Ting shot back, “Wouldn’t you be?” 

First, she had been knocked out and dragged here in the middle of the night without explanation. 

Now she couldn’t even walk around freely, confined to this tiny tent. 

Anyone would be furious-she wasn’t some saint.

Softly, he admitted, “You should be.”

Lin Ting pulled a chair over and sat down, idly cracking her knuckles: 

“Exactly. Now leave. I want to be alone. Come back tonight to take me to Jin Anazi.”

Xie Qinghe lifted the tent flap and left.

Not long after stepping out, he ran into the general who had captured Lin Ting: “Uncle Gui.”

Uncle Gui was over forty, yet his body remained robust and powerful, with sharp eyes. 

Having just finished military drills, sweat poured down as he removed his shirt: 

“You went to see that Seventh Miss Lin just now?”

“Yes.”

“You still like her?”

Xie Qinghe looked up in surprise, stammering: 

“Un-Uncle Gui, what are you talking about—”

Uncle Gui leaned against the wooden post used for boxing practice: 

“If I recall correctly, you nearly had an arranged meeting with Seventh Miss Lin before.”

His eyes flickered slightly: “So what? Mother often tried to arrange meetings with various women for me. How does that prove I liked Seventh Miss Lin?”

Uncle Gui chuckled: “True, but you rejected every other match-only hers you tacitly allowed by letting your mother meet with her mother, Lady Li. Isn’t that proof enough?” 

Pity they never got to meet before the Xie family’s downfall.

Xie Qinghe fell silent.

“Had you met Seventh Miss Lin before Lady Li came seeking the match?” Uncle Gui brushed sweat off his shoulder, teasing.

He guessed right. 

Xie Qinghe had indeed encountered Lin Ting long before-when she’d been grabbing festival blessing bags with such vigor her veil slipped, revealing a face radiant with laughter.

From then on, Xie Qinghe remembered Lin Ting, even discreetly inquiring about her. 

He learned she was the seventh daughter of the Lin family.

But never one to take initiative, he assumed their paths wouldn’t cross again—until his mother asked if he’d consider meeting Seventh Miss Lin.

It was no secret that Lin Ting’s mother Li Jingqiu had been scouting noble sons across the capital for a suitable match, but Xie Qinghe never expected she’d approach the Xie family… and choose him.

Yet by cruel coincidence, the Xie family’s calamity struck before their meeting could happen.

Looking back now, Xie Qinghe felt both regret and relief-had they met, she’d have been dragged into his misfortune.

Uncle Gui clapped Xie Qinghe’s shoulder and said:

“Once you ascend the throne, women will flock to you. If you still fancy Seventh Miss Lin then, just take her. What if she’s married? You’ll be emperor, the whole realm is yours to claim.”