Chapter 39: The Meeting (1/2)

Not far away, Tao Zhu was stunned. 

Wasn’t this the handkerchief that Seventh Miss had painstakingly embroidered stitch by stitch? 

How could it be on Lord Duan?

Tao Zhu understood. 

The handkerchief was their “token of love.” 

Seventh Miss wanted to use this method to make Lord Duan utterly devoted to her, giving him a small taste to make him crave more.

Seventh Miss’s tactics were becoming increasingly ingenious, and Tao Zhu couldn’t help but admire her from the bottom of her heart.

No, she had to find paper and pen to jot this down. 

It might come in handy later. 

Tao Zhu immediately went to the counter to fetch paper and pen, quickly scribbling down a few lines.

Lin Ting saw Tao Zhu hurrying to the counter and writing something, but she didn’t think much of it. 

She glanced at the handkerchief in her palm and then at the man before her, Lord Duan:

“Lord Duan, this handkerchief…”

Before she could finish, the handkerchief was snatched away, a breeze carrying the scent of agarwood brushing past her face.

Lord Duan’s expression remained calm as he carefully placed the handkerchief away, saying indifferently, 

“This handkerchief has been soiled, so I won’t return it to Seventh Miss Lin.”

Soiled with what? 

Blood? 

Human blood isn’t exactly clean, but Lin Ting didn’t mind. 

“It’s fine, just a handkerchief. If it’s dirty, throw it away. No need to keep it out of courtesy just because I embroidered it myself.”

Lord Duan didn’t respond, instead handing her the money for the silk he had purchased.

Lin Ting accepted the money briskly, calling over a shop assistant to pack the silk and deliver it to the Duan residence. 

The assistant was quick and efficient, soon neatly wrapping the bolts of silk and tying them with a beautiful bow.

She turned back to look at Tao Zhu, who was still writing something. 

What could she be writing? 

She paused mid-writing, deep in thought before continuing, her eyes gleaming with the excitement of having gained new knowledge.

How strange.

Tao Zhu, who usually got sleepy from reading and writing, was actually studying and at a time like this?

If Lord Duan hadn’t left yet, Lin Ting would have really wanted to go over and see what Tao Zhu was writing. 

She suppressed her curiosity and escorted Lord Duan out of the fabric shop: 

“Welcome back anytime, Lord Duan.”

The Linji Fabric Shop was located in the busiest part of Chessboard Street. 

As soon as one stepped out, they would be greeted by a bustling crowd, with the occasional luxury carriage passing by.

Lord Duan slowly descended the stone steps in front of the shop, walking towards his carriage. 

He turned back to look at her, his expression seemingly gentle, when he suddenly said, 

“I’d like to meet Master Jin. Could Seventh Miss Lin introduce me?”

Lin Ting, who was about to turn back into the shop, nearly tumbled down the steps at his words.

Why did he want to meet Jin Anzai? 

Had Lord Duan discovered something about Jin Anzai while investigating the unrest in Suzhou? 

What should she do? 

Lin Ting’s mind raced: 

“Why does Lord Duan want to meet him?”

Lord Duan: 

“Is it inconvenient to introduce us?”

Lin Ting shook her head: 

“It’s not inconvenient, I just want to know why.”

Others might not know Lord Duan, but she did. 

He always had a clear purpose for everything he did; he wouldn’t do something without reason. 

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be the Lord Duan of the Imperial Guards.

So, when Lord Duan suddenly said he wanted to meet Jin Anzai, there must be a reason.

“Nothing much, I just want to get to know some people from the martial world. As an Imperial Guard, I often have to interact with martial artists while on duty. Knowing your enemy is half the battle,” he said, his words leaving no room for doubt.

Lord Duan looked up at her standing on the steps: 

“Master Jin is highly skilled in martial arts, making him a perfect candidate. Since he’s also your friend, I’m sure he’s no ordinary person.”

Lin Ting didn’t believe Lord Duan’s words. 

With his status, he could find any martial artist he wanted.

She had initially thought of refusing on Jin Anzai’s behalf, but then reconsidered. 

Lord Duan was suspicious by nature, and the more he was kept in the dark, the more he would suspect. 

It might be better to agree and find an opportunity to probe him instead, to see what he had discovered in Suzhou.

So, Lin Ting said, 

“I can ask him and see if he’s willing to meet you. I’ll let you know as soon as I have an answer.”

Lord Duan bowed slightly to her: 

“Then I’ll thank Seventh Miss Lin in advance.”

Lin Ting: “It’s nothing.”

He inexplicably glanced at her again, said nothing more, and stepped into his carriage after bidding farewell. 

The curtain fell and didn’t open again, only swaying slightly with the movement of the carriage until it left Chessboard Street.

Lin Ting watched the carriage disappear into the distance, then turned to have Tao Zhu pack up and prepare to return to the Lin residence.

Tao Zhu was puzzled, looking at the sky outside: 

“Didn’t you say we’d wait until sunset to go back? It’s not even noon yet.”

“I’m telling you to go back. I’ll stay out for a while longer. It’s not like we’re going back together. Hurry up and pack,” 

Lin Ting said, planning to go to the bookstore to discuss with Jin Anzai about Lord Duan’s request to meet him.

Tao Zhu pouted: 

“Seventh Miss, you’re leaving me behind again.”

Lin Ting pinched her cheek: 

“Leaving you behind? That sounds so harsh. I’m just having you go back first. Isn’t that something we’ve done often?” 

“Exactly because it’s often that I said you’re ‘leaving me behind’ again.” 

Tao Zhu tugged at Lin Ting’s sleeve, 

“Can’t you really take me with you? If there’s danger, I can protect you.”

“Do you think I need your protection? Do I look like someone who needs your protection?”

Tao Zhu’s face fell, honestly admitting: 

“It doesn’t seem like you do. Seventh Miss is so capable, you definitely don’t need my protection. In fact, I need your protection.”

Lin Ting went back to the counter to pick up the ledger she hadn’t finished reading: 

“Then that’s settled. By the way, what were you writing on the counter earlier? I saw you writing quite seriously. Let me take a look.”

“Just doodling, nothing important,” Tao Zhu hid the paper.

Lin Ting had other matters to attend to, so even though she knew Tao Zhu had hidden the paper with writing on it, she didn’t press further. 

She handed the ledger to the shopkeeper, saying she’d come back another day to finish it, and left.

***

Three quarters of an hour later, Lin Ting saw Jin Anzai diligently dusting in the bookstore.

Even when no one was around, he wore a mask, completely unfazed by the sweltering heat that could cause rashes.

She watched for a moment, then reached out and took off Jin Anzai’s mask.

Underneath the mask was the face of a valiant young man. 

Due to prolonged lack of sunlight, his skin was overly pale, his features cold, and his eyes carried a hint of world-weariness, making him seem difficult to approach.

The only flaw was a scar about the length of a finger on his right cheek. 

Although the scar had faded, it was still visible upon closer inspection.

Lin Ting had once asked Jin Anzai if he wore the mask because of this scar. 

If so, she could use makeup to cover it and promised that no one would notice.

However, Jin Anzai denied it, saying he wore the mask simply because he didn’t want to show his true face.

Lin Ting weighed the mask in her hand, finding it quite heavy. 

She had a mask identical to Jin Anzai’s, but it wasn’t as heavy.

Jin Anzai glanced at Lin Ting expressionlessly, wanting to take back the mask: 

“Looking to die?”

“I’m just worried you’ll get a rash,” she deftly dodged, taking the mask and sitting on the wooden ladder used to reach books: 

“I came today to tell you something important.”

“Something important?”

Lin Ting placed the mask aside, picked up another feather duster, and started dusting the top shelves: 

“Lord Duan said he wants to meet you.”

Jin Anzai looked up at Lin Ting, who was sitting on the ladder dusting, and silently moved to a different spot to avoid getting dust on himself. 

He calmly asked: 

“Has Lord Duan found out about me in Suzhou?”

Lazy as Lin Ting was, she only dusted a few times before stopping: 

“I can’t be sure, I haven’t been able to probe him yet. But where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Better safe than sorry, so be careful these days.”

Jin Anzai silently returned to his original spot to continue dusting: 

“Got it.”

Seeing him so diligent, Lin Ting felt a bit embarrassed and picked up the feather duster again:

 “So, do you want to agree to meet Lord Duan? I think it’s fine, we can get a feel for his intentions.”

Jin Anzai, standing below, was getting dust all over him. He suppressed the urge to kill: 

“…Maybe you should stop helping.”

“That doesn’t seem right.”

Jin Anzai seriously suspected Lin Ting was doing it on purpose: 

“I said you don’t need to help, so stop. If you can’t understand human language, go see a doctor. As for the meeting, I agree. Go tell him, and he can decide the time and place.”

Lin Ting threw the feather duster aside, climbed down the ladder, and went to the cupboard to look for food: 

“Alright, I’ll go with you then, so we can support each other.”

Jin Anzai watched coldly as Lin Ting rummaged through the cupboard and ate the pastries. 

No wonder the pastries he bought always mysteriously disappeared-it was because she had been sneaking them.

He decided to deduct the cost from the public account: 

“I also have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Jin Anzai continued dusting: 

“I’m going to escort Master Xie out of the city.”

Lin Ting choked on her pastry and had to drink some water to recover: 

“You found Master Xie and are going to escort him out of the city?”

“Yes,” 

Jin Anzai finished dusting and carried some books to the backyard to sun them, 

“But don’t overthink it. I just thought it necessary to tell you, not that I want you to come with me.”

Lin Ting put down her teacup and followed him out: 

“When are you planning to escort him out of the city?” 

Preferably on a day when Lord Duan wasn’t patrolling.

The chickens and dogs had been locked up, so the backyard was relatively clean. 

Jin Anzai spread out the books to sun them.

“Not sure yet.”

She pondered: 

“Let me know when you decide. Where is Master Xie now?”

Jin Anzai didn’t answer, slowly finishing with the books in his hands, then looked towards the second floor of the bookstore and gestured for her to look there.

Lin Ting followed his gaze and saw a man standing by the window. 

He had a handsome face, loose-fitting clothes, and was as thin as a skeleton. 

His fingers resting on the windowsill had new nails growing in, replacing those that had been broken during torture.

Xie Qinghe saw Lin Ting looking at him and nodded slightly, probably having heard about her from Jin Anzai and knowing who she was: 

“Seventh Miss Lin.”

***

Three days later, Lin Ting accompanied Jin Anzai to meet Lord Duan, who had chosen the South Mountain Pavilion as their meeting place. 

As they stepped into the pavilion, certain memories flooded back, and she almost turned around to leave.

The manager at the counter recognized Lin Ting and smiled: 

“Miss, you’re here again.”

Lin Ting: “Hmph.”

Since that day, Lin Ting had “held a grudge” against this manager. 

Who asked him to try to swindle her money? 

Lin Ting could never accept others coveting her money.

Jin Anzai glanced at her, his eyes full of meaning, as if saying,