Chapter 34: Deny. (1/2)

After Duan Ling uttered those words, the hall fell into a brief silence.

The wind blew through the open door, brushing over the erotic paintings in Lin Ting’s hands, causing a few sheets to rustle softly.

The bright sunlight also spilled in along the eaves, making the erotic paintings clearly visible. 

Lin Ting lowered her gaze, and the image of a man and woman in the “Guanyin sitting on a lotus” position immediately caught her eye.

Duan Xinning had good taste; the erotic paintings she bought were of the highest quality, with lifelike figures that made one feel as if they were there, witnessing the scene firsthand.

If the timing weren’t so inappropriate, Lin Ting might have closed the door to savor them properly.

But in front of Duan Ling, it was better not to. 

She wasn’t accustomed to viewing erotic paintings with a man. 

Lin Ting took a deep breath and shoved the paintings back into Duan Ling’s hands.

Duan Ling was clearly taken aback, a rare look of surprise crossing his face.

“Miss Lin Qi, what is this?”

Lin Ting looked up, blinking innocently, as if to say, 

“I’m pure and innocent, don’t wrong me.” 

“Lord Duan, you’ve misunderstood. These aren’t my erotic paintings.”

“Not yours?”

She replied innocently, 

“No, aren’t these the ones you picked up from the floor?”

He chuckled softly. 

“Then why did you come back? I thought you returned to retrieve these erotic paintings. Apparently not.”

Lin Ting firmly denied it, lying nonchalantly, 

“No, I went outside to fetch my things and came back to return some books. I didn’t want to disturb you another day.”

“…Perhaps these erotic paintings were dropped by a Jin Yiwei who stayed in this hall before.”

She had shifted the blame.

The hall was usually occupied by the Jin Yiwei on duty, and there were many of them in the Northern Imperial Bureau. 

Duan Ling wouldn’t go out of his way to investigate the source of the erotic paintings.

He was busy with official duties and wouldn’t bother with such trivial matters.

After handing the erotic paintings to Duan Ling, Lin Ting also placed the books in his other hand.

Duan Ling was silent for a moment. 

“Miss Lin Qi, this hall is mine. The one for the Jin Yiwei on duty is the one to the right after exiting.”

She paused. 

“Of course, I believe you’re innocent, but these really aren’t my erotic paintings. I swear, if they were mine, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death.”

He studied Lin Ting, seemingly amused, a slight curve at the corner of his lips. 

“Miss Lin Qi, there’s no need for such a harsh oath. It’s just a trivial matter. I believe you. These erotic paintings aren’t yours.”

Lin Ting seized the opportunity to turn the tables.

“Lord Duan, rest assured, once I leave the Northern Imperial Bureau, I’ll keep my mouth shut. I won’t mention to anyone that erotic paintings appeared in the hall where you reside. I’ll take this secret to my grave.”

She repeated, 

“I absolutely believe these aren’t your erotic paintings. It’s just that if word got out, it might affect your reputation in the Northern Imperial Bureau. Some things are hard to explain, so it’s better to keep it hidden. There’s no need to investigate.”

Duan Ling replied, 

“Then I must thank Miss Lin Qi for your consideration.”

Lin Ting successfully shifted the blame and pretended to be magnanimous. 

“It’s just a small matter. But what do you plan to do with these erotic paintings?”

He set down the books and took out a fire starter, aiming it at the erotic paintings. 

“Since they don’t belong to Miss Lin Qi, nor to me, naturally, they should be burned.”

The flames quickly leaped up, licking the corners of the paper, devouring the lascivious images.

Lin Ting felt a pang of regret. 

Although the erotic paintings weren’t hers and she hadn’t spent any money on them, such high-quality works were rare. 

It was a pity she hadn’t had more time to appreciate them.

The hall was now filled with the smell of burning paper. 

She couldn’t help but glance at Duan Ling.

He was dressed in a bright red official robe, his skin unnaturally pale, his strikingly beautiful face betraying no emotion as he calmly burned one erotic painting after another.

As he burned them, Duan Ling’s delicate, pale fingers inadvertently brushed over the highly suggestive images. 

The figures seemed to leap and dance across his fingertips, appearing even more erotic than the paintings themselves.

Lin Ting felt an inexplicable dryness in her throat.

She averted her gaze and continued watching the burning paintings. 

“Just like that… burned?”

Duan Ling was now burning the last one.

“What else? Should we find the owner and return them? Didn’t you say there was no need to investigate? that’s the case, I’ll handle it.”

Lin Ting chuckled awkwardly. 

“You’re right. Burning them is better. Keeping them serves no purpose.”

Her eyes, against her will, drifted to Duan Ling’s hand holding the paintings. 

His wrist guard was slightly loose, revealing a glimpse of his wrist, where a startlingly fresh red scar marred the skin.

Lin Ting blurted out, 

“Lord Duan, your hand is injured?”

The last erotic painting had just been burned. 

Duan Ling lowered his hand and his gaze, smiling faintly. 

“It’s just a minor wound.”

A minor wound?

Lin Ting instinctively touched her own wrist, thinking that if such a wound were on her, it would be excruciating. 

“You call this a minor wound? It looks deep. Have you treated it?”

Duan Ling was reluctant to discuss it. 

“It’s been treated. It’s nothing serious. It’ll heal soon.”

It seemed the life of a Jin Yiwei was indeed dangerous. 

Lin Ting sighed inwardly. 

“Lord Duan, did you get injured while on duty?”

He pressed his thumb against the wrist guard, countering with a question. 

“Weren’t you in a hurry to leave earlier?” 

His implication was clear: why wasn’t she in a rush now?

Lin Ting denied it. 

“I wasn’t in a hurry. I just didn’t want to delay your duties.”

“Miss Lin Qi is quite considerate.” 

Duan Ling didn’t look at the ashes on the floor, stepping over them as he called for someone to clean up.

She had no reason to stay. 

After bidding him farewell once more, she left the Northern Imperial Bureau.

Less than half an hour later, Lin Ting emerged from the Northern Imperial Bureau. 

Tao Zhu, who had been keeping track of the time, hurried over, scrutinizing Lin Ting to ensure she hadn’t been wronged. 

“Miss Qi.”

Lin Ting no longer dwelled on the burned erotic paintings. 

With a wave of her hand, she lifted the carriage curtain and stepped inside. 

“Tao Zhu, let’s return to the estate.”

Tao Zhu also entered the carriage, asking cautiously, 

“Is everything settled?”

Once they were seated, the carriage began to move, heading toward the Lin estate. 

Lin Ting leaned against the small table, sipping tea. 

“More or less.” 

“More or less?”

Lin Ting lifted the curtain, watching the Northern Imperial Bureau grow smaller in the distance. 

“Yes, more or less. But there’s still one more thing I haven’t done.”

Tao Zhu handed Lin Ting a soft cushion to sit on and began massaging her temples. 

“Another thing? Miss Qi, if you don’t mind telling me, perhaps I can help.”

Lin Ting let the curtain fall, opened a small cabinet, and picked out a few snacks. 

“This is something no one can help me with. I have to do it myself.” 

Tao Zhu pressed further, 

“Is it difficult?”

“It’s difficult, for me at least. I hope I can succeed next time.” 

Lin Ting spoke vaguely. 

“Where did these almond cookies come from? They’re quite good. Let’s buy more from this shop next time.”

Back at the Lin estate, Lin Ting wrote a letter to Duan Xinning, informing her of what had happened that day.

Two hours after sending the letter, Lin Ting received a reply. 

The letter stated that it was just as well the erotic paintings had been burned, effectively 

“destroying the evidence.” 

It also expressed apologies and assured her it wouldn’t happen again.

After reading the letter, Lin Ting stepped out of her room, intending to call for a maid to prepare dinner. 

However, she noticed a Kongming lantern rising in the eastern direction outside the courtyard.

This was her method of communication with Jin Anzai. 

Whenever he needed to contact her, regardless of the time, he would release a Kongming lantern with the character “Jin” written on it in the eastern direction of the Lin estate. 

Upon seeing it, she would head to the bookstore.

The Kongming lantern gradually drifted away. 

Lin Ting immediately returned to her room to prepare for her trip to the bookstore.

Tao Zhu entered, asking if Lin Ting wanted dinner served, as it was getting late. 

Before she could finish, she saw Lin Ting at the mirror, undoing her hair and tying it into a high ponytail, more suitable for action. 

A set of trousers and a skirt lay discarded on the daybed.

Whenever Lin Ting dressed like this, it meant she was planning to sneak out without the estate’s knowledge. 

Tao Zhu hurried in saying,

“Miss Qi, it’s almost nightfall. Please don’t go out today.”

Lin Ting didn’t stop. 

“If my mother comes, tell her I’ve gone to bed.”

“You’ve been out during the day, but please don’t go out at night. The capital hasn’t been safe recently. Even the Prince of Liang’s mansion was broken into, and itching powder was spread.” 

Tao Zhu gave an example.

Lin Ting tied her high ponytail with a silk ribbon. 

“That’s the Prince of Liang’s own misfortune. Those who commit many wrongdoings will inevitably meet their end.”

She was about to leave when Madam Li arrived.

Madam Li carried a basket of lychees, beaming as she entered Tingling Courtyard. 

“Madam Feng sent over some lychees. At my age, I’ve never tasted lychees before…”

In the Great Yan Dynasty, lychees were a rare delicacy, accessible only to the imperial family and high-ranking officials. 

The Lin family, while not among the nobility, had some connections, but Madam Li, who came from a merchant family, had never had the opportunity to try them.

Madam Feng, however, remembered Lin Ting and sent some lychees to the Lin estate.

Upon entering, Madam Li’s smile faltered, and she frowned at Lin Ting’s attire. 

“Why are you dressed like this?”

The high ponytail and plain trousers made her look more like a country girl than a young lady from an official’s family.

Over the years, Madam Li had worked hard to raise Lin Ting as a proper young lady from a prestigious family. 

Two years ago, she had been doing well, but recently, Lin Ting had started to resemble this “ghostly” appearance.

Seeing her mother arrive, Lin Ting abruptly stopped, fanning herself deliberately. 

“It’s too hot. This is more comfortable. What did you say earlier? Madam Feng sent over lychees?”

Madam Li’s attention was diverted, and she carefully set down the lychees, instructing the maids not to touch them.

“Yes, see how Madam Feng remembers you? Even when she has lychees, she doesn’t forget to send some to us. You, on the other hand, seem ungrateful.”

“How am I ungrateful? You’re the one being overly sentimental. I’m afraid of you. I’ll personally visit to express my gratitude, alright?” 

If it weren’t for the fact that lychees spoiled easily, Lin Ting would have had them sent back.

Madam Li sat down. 

“You said it. Remember to personally visit Madam Feng to thank her.”

Lin Ting really couldn’t deal with her. 

“Mm,” 

she responded absentmindedly. 

“When have I ever lied to you? Even when I didn’t want to go, after promising you, didn’t I still go?”

Madam Li called for a maid to bring water, carefully washed her hands, and then began peeling the red skin of a lychee, revealing the fruit inside. 

She handed it to Lin Ting. 

“What are you waiting for? Sit down and try the lychee.”

The sweet fruit was pushed into her mouth by Lin Ting. 

“Lin Leyun, what are you doing?”

Lin Ting knew Madam Li couldn’t bear to eat the lychees herself. 

Once they were brought to Tingling Courtyard, they wouldn’t be taken back. 

“You try it first. I’m afraid they might not be good.”

Madam Li held the lychee in her mouth, savoring the sweetness. 

“You’ve learned to scheme against your own mother.”