Lin Ting naturally wanted someone to accompany her, as she was feeling extremely bored and a little scared.
However, if the companion was Duan Ling, she wasn’t sure how to make that choice.
The most important question was: wasn’t Duan Ling afraid of being infected by her?
Lin Ting hadn’t come into contact with any of the infected individuals who had fled from East Street to North Long Street, but most of the people quarantined here claimed they hadn’t either, all in the hopes of leaving North Long Street.
So, the credibility of such statements was questionable.
To others, even getting close to them for a moment posed a risk of infection, and it was only natural to avoid them.
After all, it was a matter of life and death, and such caution was understandable.
Thinking of this, Lin Ting didn’t answer directly but instead asked, “Aren’t you afraid, Lord Duan, that I might have been in contact with the infected?”
Duan Ling replied calmly, “Didn’t you say you hadn’t been in contact with the infected?”
Lin Ting took out a fire starter to light the candles.
She had blown out all the candles before lying down earlier, and now the room was dim and said:
“That’s true, but I could also be lying to you just to get out.”
As the candlelight flickered to life, Lin Ting’s face was faintly illuminated, and his gaze fell on her.
“Would you lie to me about something like this?”
Lin Ting was momentarily speechless.
Then she said, “Alright, I wouldn’t.”
Lying about whether she had been in contact with the infected could inadvertently harm others, and she couldn’t bring herself to do such a thing.
Duan Ling held a beautiful lantern in his hand, its tassels swaying gently even without wind.
“Then that’s settled. You said you wouldn’t lie to me, and I believe you.”
Hearing Duan Ling’s words, Lin Ting couldn’t help but carefully recall the scenes from the day, trying to remember if she had inadvertently come into contact with any suspicious individuals on North Long Street, fearing she might have missed some detail.
The answer was still no.
Ever since she learned that the plague outbreak in the capital was imminent, she had been careful not to let strangers get too close to her, always maintaining a certain distance.
In the face of a plague, it was always better to be cautious.
As the saying goes, “Caution is the parent of safety.”
Lin Ting blinked slowly and said:
“But no matter what, to outsiders, I’m still someone who could very well be infected. If you stay here with me tonight and someone finds out, then…”
Wouldn’t you also be quarantined?
Duan Ling seemed unfazed and said lightly, “Then we’ll just make sure no one finds out.”
She hadn’t expected this response and looked at him in confusion, her reaction slightly delayed.
“Huh?”
Was he planning to abuse his authority as a member of the Imperial Guard?
Lin Ting unconsciously scratched her slightly itchy fingernail.
“That doesn’t seem right. You’ve already sealed off two streets and offended the high-ranking officials trapped inside. They’ll probably go out of their way to find fault with you and report you to the Emperor.”
Duan Ling stepped over the threshold, his robe brushing against the doorframe.
“I don’t care.”
Lin Ting stared blankly as Duan Ling walked in.
He closed the door, shutting out the darkness of the night, and blew out the lantern in his hand, placing it on the ground.
He then walked toward her, who stood under the candlelight.
They were now very close.
Lin Ting looked up at Duan Ling.
He was a head taller than her, so at eye level, she could only see his chest.
Raising her gaze slightly, she saw his pale neck and the Adam’s apple that moved as he swallowed.
To see his face, she would have to step back or tilt her head further.
She had forgotten to blow out the fire starter she used to light the candles.
“Are you really going to stay here with me tonight?”
Duan Ling took the still-burning fire starter from her hand and pressed it against the candleholder, extinguishing it and replied:
“When I was sick, didn’t you stay with me too? I stayed by your side all night, and now it’s my turn to accompany you. Isn’t that only fair? Besides, we are betrothed… and will soon be married.”
Lin Ting hesitated, “The situation is different. Your illness won’t spread to me, but if I get infected, you might catch it too.”
Duan Ling said: “I won’t get infected.”
She walked over and sat on the daybed and replied, “How can you be so sure? Just because I said I haven’t been in contact with anyone infected today?”
Duan Ling strolled to the windowsill, his hand brushing the ledge as he gazed at the long street and night sky Lin Ting had been looking at, “I just know I won’t get infected.”
Lin Ting’s eyes lit up, “Have the Imperial Guards found a cure for the plague?”
Duan Ling turned to meet her gaze.
“Not yet.”
Lin Ting deflated like a balloon.
Of course, the court wouldn’t find a cure so quickly.
In the original story, the plague lasted a long time, causing widespread discontent before it was finally resolved.
She added, “Since there isn’t a cure yet, don’t speak so confidently. Don’t be like Jin Anazi, relying on your martial arts skills and fearing nothing, ignoring my warnings.”
Duan Ling approached the daybed but didn’t sit, looking puzzled, “Young Master Jin?”
“You didn’t return with Lingyun today. Did you go to see him?” He chuckled softly, the sound clear and pleasant, making Lin Ting feel as if her ears were being gently caressed.
Lin Ting couldn’t help but sit up straighter.
Duan Ling placed the extinguished fire starter aside and said, “I heard from Lingyun that you parted ways outside the palace gates. Did you meet Young Master Jin there?”
Lin Ting’s eyelids twitched, “I saw him a few days ago. Today, I was handling other matters, unrelated to him.”
Duan Ling was too sharp.
He mustn’t find out that Jin Anazi had been lurking around the Crown Prince recently, harboring thoughts of assassination.
He took in her expression, a faint smile playing on his lips, “You seem quite concerned about Young Master Jin.”
Concerned?
Lin Ting felt a surge of irritation, remembering how Jin Anazi had dismissed her nagging.
She scoffed, “I’m not concerned about him. I just mentioned something about East Street when I saw him, and he didn’t appreciate it, calling me a nag.”
Duan Ling didn’t bring up Jin Anazi again, “Aren’t you afraid, being trapped in North Long Street?”
She rested her chin on her hands, long silk ribbons draping over her elbows and said, “It’s impossible not to be afraid, but crying won’t change anything. It’s like being grounded by my mother for three days. After three days, I can go out again.”
He said calmly, “You’re quite optimistic. From your tone, it seems you have great faith that the court will find a cure for the plague?”
She spoke reassuringly, “In times like these, who else can we trust if not the court?”
“What if they don’t find one?”
What if they don’t?
How was the plague resolved in the original story?
It must just be a matter of timing.
Lin Ting pondered briefly, “Don’t say such discouraging things. I believe there’s a solution to everything, including this plague.”
Duan Ling remained silent.
She poured herself a cup of water and asked casually, “Where are those who have been confirmed infected now?”
Of course, those confirmed infected wouldn’t be kept with those like them who only needed isolation and observation, or else they might spread the disease.
“They’ve been gathered together.”
Gathering them makes it easier for doctors to treat them and prevents them from wandering around and infecting others.
Lin Ting understood and set her cup down, “Can you tell me…”
“How many people are currently known to be infected?” she asked, finally finding someone to chat with after a long, boring day, and naturally, she wanted to keep the conversation going.
Duan Ling also poured himself a glass of water and said:
“As of now, there are 367 confirmed cases, 1,032 suspected cases, and over 10,000 people trapped in East Street and North Long Street.”
East Street and North Long Street were home to many residents, and during the day, there were also shoppers and visitors.
It was within the normal range for over 10,000 people to be trapped there.
The capital had a population of around 800,000.
The priority was to contain these 10,000 people to protect the rest.
“How many people have died since the plague was discovered?”
Lin Ting suddenly noticed that Duan Ling had mistakenly picked up the cup she had been using and stopped him from drinking, “This cup is the one I used.”
“One hundred and fifty-three,” Duan Ling replied, seemingly unfazed, and finished the water in the cup.
Lin Ting swallowed, realizing belatedly that her comment was unnecessary.
They had kissed more than once, and he had even eaten from her…
So worrying about this now was pointless.
She shifted her gaze, her eyes wandering, and stopped asking about the plague, as if someone had suddenly pressed the pause button, silencing her.
Duan Ling placed the cup back next to the water jug:
“It’s getting late, time to rest.”
Lin Ting instinctively glanced toward the bed, where the bedding was messy, showing signs of her having lain there, and couldn’t help but ask again, “Are you really going to stay with me tonight?”
He nodded: “Yes.”
Although it wasn’t the first time they had spent the night alone together, Lin Ting still felt a bit nervous and reminded him again, “If you get sick because of me, don’t blame me.”
Duan Ling didn’t hesitate: “Alright.”
A warm breeze came through the open window, brushing against Lin Ting’s face, giving her a strange, subtle feeling.
She glanced at the bed again: “Then you…”
Where will you sleep?
In the same bed as me?
Lin Ting couldn’t bring herself to ask.
That night when it rained heavily, they had ended up sharing a bed because she had been so exhausted from taking care of him that she had climbed into bed and fallen asleep without thinking.
Duan Ling, as if he could read her mind, said, “I’ll sleep on the daybed you’re sitting on now.”
The daybed?
She stood up, making room for Duan Ling, and returned to sit on the bed, but didn’t lie down immediately, still watching him.
The daybed was a bit small for her, only suitable for sitting, and lying down to sleep was out of the question.
For Duan Ling, it was even smaller.
He was over six feet tall, and if he lay on it, his legs would have to hang off the side.
Sleeping like that all night would surely be uncomfortable.
Lin Ting looked down at the bed.
It was quite spacious, more than enough for two people.
Besides, Duan Ling wouldn’t do anything to her.
If he had wanted to, he would have done it already, not waited until now.
So there was no need to worry about that.
But Lin Ting still couldn’t bring herself to say it.
Seeing Duan Ling blow out the recently lit candle and start to undo the belt at his waist, she turned over, pulled the blanket over her head, and went to sleep.
The belt was adorned with jade pendants and other ornaments, which needed to be removed when resting to avoid discomfort.
Lin Ting knew this, but when she saw Duan Ling slowly undoing the belt with his well-proportioned hands, her mind automatically conjured up images of what lay beneath his waist.
Heaven knows, she wasn’t a lustful person who constantly thought about such things.
It was purely because she had seen it before the visual impact was so strong, leaving a deep impression that she couldn’t forget even if she wanted to.
There were many things that didn’t feel significant at the time, but upon reflection, they evoked all sorts of emotions, just like how she felt now.
Even after covering her head, Lin Ting could still hear the “click” of the belt being unfastened.
Then came the sound of Duan Ling placing the belt on the table, followed by the sound of him lying down on the daybed…
In the darkness, Lin Ting’s hearing became sharper, though she wished she couldn’t hear anything at all.
The daybed was right across from the bed.
Duan Ling lay on his side, and with his eyes open, he could see her wrapped in the blanket.
He suddenly asked, “Aren’t you hot?”
Lin Ting wiped the sweat from her cheeks with her sleeve and replied:
“No, I actually feel a bit cold at night.”
Tonight was the hottest it had been in a while.
Previous nights had been slightly cool, but tonight was stifling, with occasional gusts of hot wind blowing in.
Leaving the window open made it worse, but closing it only intensified the heat.