Lin Ting had just woken up when she learned that Duan Ling had already been waiting at the Lin Family Manor for over an hour.
She got out of bed, quickly dressed and washed up, then glanced outside her room.
The window and curtains blocked the view, so she couldn’t see anything.Â
“He’s been here for over an hour? Mother, why didn’t you wake me?”
Li Jingqiu was personally doing Lin Ting’s hair, looking up at her reflection in the mirror.
“As soon as Ziyu arrived, I wanted to come wake you, but he said to wait until you woke up on your own. So I let you sleep.”
Lin Ting was puzzled.
Hadn’t she told him not to come?
And he agreed.
Why did he show up today?Â
Besides, he knew she woke up late but still came so early.
Was there something urgent?
But it didn’t seem like it—if it were urgent, would he wait over an hour?Â
Lin Ting thought hard but couldn’t figure it out.
She gave up and asked, “Where is he now?”
Li Jingqiu moved deftly, tying up her long hair with a silk ribbon, then inserted a golden step-shaking hairpin.
“In the main hall.”
She rubbed her eyes and looked in the mirror at Li Jingqiu standing behind her.
“Did he say why he came so early to find me?”
Li Jingqiu was older and usually woke earlier than young people.
Since Duan Ling came even earlier, she almost suspected he hadn’t slept all night.
“No, he didn’t say. Didn’t you two discuss everything yesterday?”
Lin Ting raised an eyebrow.
“We did discuss it. I told him I’d return by myself.”
Li Jingqiu was indifferent.
“Maybe Ziyu is worried about you. Jingcheng is just as unsafe as Ancheng now. You’re alone and not safe going back by yourself. He came to pick you up, so I’m relieved.”
“Do you think I’m some fragile porcelain? Don’t worry, ordinary people can’t hurt me.”
Lin Ting clicked her tongue.
“You’re always bragging.”
Her finger ran over the gold and silver jewelry on the dressing table.
“By the way, you said Jingcheng isn’t peaceful? What’s going on lately?”
Li Jingqiu replied, “There are many rumors that rebels are close to reaching Jingcheng. The Empress’s illness has worsened recently. Nobody knows if she can last till next month… Anyway, things aren’t peaceful.”
The Empress had fallen seriously ill again, and Emperor Jiade, in a fit of rage, executed several Imperial Physicians who claimed they couldn’t cure her, desperate to find a doctor who could heal her.
Word spread quickly throughout the city.Â
Li Jingqiu didn’t understand national affairs much—she only wanted to protect those around her.
Lin Ting pursed her lips and said,”I see.”
Li Jingqiu gently touched her temples and then lowered her hands and said, “Alright, let’s go.”
Two servants were standing at the main hall entrance.
When they saw Lin Ting and Li Jingqiu, they stepped aside and greeted, “Madam, Seventh Miss.”
Lin Ting nodded and passed by them, her steps light, the golden step-shaking hairpin jingling in her hair.
***
Duan Ling had already heard the noise and stood facing the door.
The door was wide open, sunlight streaming in through the eaves onto the main hall.
Lin Ting stepped into the light, her shadow falling over him.
Though it couldn’t fully cover him, it felt as if it did.
She walked up to Duan Ling, puzzled.
“Why did you come to pick me up?”
With every step she took closer, Duan Ling’s heart beat faster.
But his expression remained calm, his tone even.
“I only entered the palace this afternoon and thought I’d come for you this morning.”
Lin Ting had initially assumed Duan Ling had to go to the palace early, but it was actually in the afternoon.
That left time to come pick her up.
“But there was no need to come so early. Mother said you arrived at the hour of the Rabbit. At this time of year, the sky isn’t even bright yet.”
“Don’t you like that I came to get you?”
Duan Ling’s gaze gradually dropped, resting on the purple jade earrings hanging from Lin Ting’s earlobes.
Before their marriage, when they bought jewelry at the shop, he had picked out this pair of purple jade earrings for her.
She said they were beautiful but didn’t suit her.
Now, she was wearing them.
His eyes lifted back to her face.
Lin Ting stretched lazily.
She had gone to bed late last night and woke late today.
“It’s not that I don’t like it, I just wanted to ask.”
She looked up at Duan Ling, eyes falling on the faint shadows under his eyes.
His skin was pale, so even the light shadows were visible.
“Did you not sleep well last night?”
He answered lightly, “It was fine.”
Lin Ting didn’t quite believe him and looked him over carefully.
“You didn’t stay up all night handling business right after returning to Jingcheng, did you?”
Duan Ling: “No.”
Li Jingqiu came in, deliberately walking slowly to give them a chance to speak first.
She carried several large packages of Lin Ting’s favorite snacks.
She knew her daughter’s appetite well—she would finish quickly.
Though Lin Ting could buy these snacks at the Duan Family Manor, Li Jingqiu couldn’t help but have the servants buy some in advance for her to take.
“Remember to bring these when you leave. They’re all your favorites.”
Lin Ting’s eyes lit up at the mention of food and moved to open them and try some.
Li Jingqiu knocked her hand away and took a few steps before neatly placing the snacks on a side table.
“Look at you, drooling already. I said to bring them, not to eat them now.”
“What’s the difference?”
Li Jingqiu gave her a sidelong glance.
“There is a difference. You haven’t eaten breakfast yet, so you can’t eat now.”
Lin Ting didn’t understand her logic and withdrew her hand, mumbling, “I know.”
Half an hour later, they finally left.
Since none of them had eaten breakfast yet and Duan Ling was only going to the palace in the afternoon to see Emperor Jiade, there was no rush to leave.
Like yesterday, they ate before departing.
At the front gate of the Lin Family Manor stood the Duan Family carriage.
Besides the coachman, a most unpleasant man lingered there—it was Third Master Lin.
Lin Ting ignored Third Master Lin, looking straight ahead as she walked toward the carriage, ready to get in.
Third Master Lin hurried to block her way.
“Leyun, you have to talk to your mother. She actually said she wants a Hedivorce Certificate from me. I think she’s crazy.”
Third Master Lin didn’t want to discuss this in front of the Lin Family Manor gates—it was embarrassing.
But Li Jingqiu refused to see him inside the manor, so he waited at the gate.
She left through the back door, so he waited by the Duan carriage when Duan Ling came.
He’d thought about doing this since yesterday but didn’t have the courage until today.
Lin Ting was unmoved and even considered hitting him.
“Move aside.”
Third Master Lin didn’t move.
Duan Ling was about to intervene when Li Jingqiu strode forward and shoved Third Master Lin aside, hands on her hips, glaring angrily.
“What are you doing? Have some shame. Our matters have nothing to do with the child.”
He staggered back a few steps.
“You want to get a divorce from me, but how does that have nothing to do with the child? It damages Leyun’s reputation. People will talk about her parents…”
Li Jingqiu’s good mood vanished immediately.
“Shut up.”
She then helped Lin Ting into the carriage.
Before Lin Ting got in, she glanced at another low-key carriage parked not far away.
Inside sat a pale-faced man, looking ghostly.
He lifted the curtain to watch them, his eyes no longer cold but strangely gentle.
‘Treading Snow Mud Sect?’ Lin Ting paused.
Why did he come today?
Just to check on her mother and leave?
After all, Treading Snow Mud showed no intention of dismounting.
Nor had he ever tried to acknowledge Li Jingqiu before.
Last night, when Lin Ting and Li Jingqiu were chatting casually, Li Jingqiu mentioned Ying Zhihe and asked why Lin Ting had once written her a letter to inquire about him.
Lin Ting only said Duan Ling was investigating this person on business and found out Li Jingqiu might know him, so she wrote to ask.
There was no other meaning—she told her not to take it to heart.
With the Treading Snow Mud Sect preparing to rebel, Lin Ting couldn’t tell Li Jingqiu the truth and had to lie.
Li Jingqiu noticed Lin Ting freeze and followed her gaze.
Their eyes met.
Before Li Jingqiu could look closer, the carriage curtain dropped, cutting off the view.
Soon after, the carriage left.
“Why are you just staring? Aren’t you going in?” Li Jingqiu said without thinking, patting Lin Ting’s hand.
Lin Ting went inside.
***
On the way back to the Duan Family Manor, Duan Ling sat in the carriage with his eyes closed, resting.
Lin Ting wanted to know if he was really asleep or just had his eyes closed.
She reached out and waved her hand in front of him but he grabbed her wrist.
He only held her hand without moving his long black lashes or opening his eyes.
Lin Ting looked down at his slender fingers encircling her wrist and didn’t pull away.
She quietly sat beside him, eating with her free hand, occasionally glancing sideways at him.
Duan Ling’s features were like a painting—delicately arched eyebrows, faintly red lips slightly pursed, a smooth jawline, sharp features.
His skin under the crimson robe was pale and fine.
Sitting with his long legs bent, the fragrant sachet hanging from his sash swayed gently at his waist.
With such a handsome man nearby, it was a delight to the eye.
Lin Ting watched for a while, then, entranced, leaned in and kissed Duan Ling’s cheek.
At the moment she kissed him, Duan Ling turned his head, letting her kiss his lips.
Then he raised his hands to cup her shoulders, deepening the kiss.
His eyelashes fluttered as he licked her lips, pried them apart, and touched his tongue to hers, drawing her breath away.
Lin Ting pinched his earlobe.
Duan Ling pulled her hand down, but her fingers slipped into his loosely fastened wrist guard, playfully scratching the scar there.
He bit her lip lightly, and she bit back.
But she remembered he had to visit Emperor Jiade in the afternoon, so she was careful not to leave a mark.
The carriage stopped, and the kiss ended.