The final years of the Great Xia Dynasty.
The cicadas’ cries echoed repeatedly through the courtyard.
Duan Ling seemed deaf to the noisy, piercing chirps outside.
He sat straight-backed and quietly studied in the study, eyes lowered, focused solely on his book, occasionally flipping a page.
Suddenly, a servant rushed in, forgetting the rules, shouting loudly, “Bad news!”
Upon seeing Duan Ling, the servant realized his breach of etiquette and immediately stopped, bowing respectfully: “Second Young Master.”
Duan Ling closed his book and slowly stood up, asking calmly, “What happened?”
The servant took a step forward and raised his eyes slightly to look at the little master before him.
At eight years old, he was a delicate jade carving, his features not fully developed yet but already radiantly beautiful.
He resembled both Duan Father and Madam Feng, perfectly combining his parents’ best traits.
“Second Young Master, the Third Miss nearly got hit by a horse today. She fainted and is currently at a medical clinic in the west of the city. She hasn’t woken up yet. Madam asked you to come see her.” The servant’s mind was still unsettled.
Duan Ling was naturally cold and indifferent.
Hearing this news stirred no emotion or worry in his heart.
However, he still showed just a trace of the concern befitting an older brother, for he lived in a large family and knew Duan Father would not accept a son who neglected family ties and the Duan Family.
He left the study and headed out of the mansion.
“How did she almost get hit by a horse?”
The servant hurriedly explained the whole story.
This morning, Duan Xinning had gone out with her nanny but sneaked away while the nanny and maids weren’t paying attention to explore elsewhere.
She nearly got trampled by a runaway horse in the street.
Fortunately, Seventh Miss Lin, Lin Ting, happened to pass by and pulled Duan Xinning away just in time.
Otherwise, she might have been crushed beneath the hooves.
Though the servant had not witnessed it himself, he found the incident quite terrifying.
Duan Xinning was still very young, just over four years old, and Madam Feng’s most beloved daughter.
If anything had happened to her, the Duan Family would have been thrown into chaos, and even they servants would suffer.
After all, it was their fault for not watching Duan Xinning properly, allowing her to run around and get into danger.
Their master would surely be angry, and it was likely all the current servants would be sold off and replaced.
Thinking this, the servant quietly wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, grateful it had been Seventh Miss Lin who saved her.
Duan Ling gave a distracted “Mm” and felt little about this so-called Seventh Miss Lin who had saved his sister.
He asked casually, “Where is Seventh Miss Lin now?”
“She’s by Third Miss’s side, watching over her.”
His steps paused slightly, a trace of surprise crossing his face.
“She’s at Lingyun’s side?”
The servant nodded, “Yes.”
Duan Ling thought for a moment, then continued walking.
“Lingyun knew Seventh Miss Lin before?”
The servant pondered and replied, “I’ve heard they met once, but I’m not certain. Duan Father is highly respected at court, and naturally the Duan Family holds great status in Jingcheng. Many families try to ingratiate themselves.”
“They know the Duan Family has not only the eldest son Duan Lisheng but also the still-growing Second Young Master and Third Miss. They intentionally have their children meet them, hoping to establish connections through these youngsters.”
“Lin Third Master once brought Lin Ting to a flower appreciation banquet hosted by the Duan Family to curry favor with Duan Xinning. But since Duan Xinning was surrounded by many children her age, she barely noticed Lin Ting. At most, they were mere acquaintances.”
Duan Ling did not ask further.
Outside the clinic were all the servants attending to Duan Xinning, their faces pale and anxious.
He walked past them without looking aside.
Shortly after entering, Duan Ling met eyes with a little girl he had never seen before.
She sat beside Duan Xinning’s bed, chin resting on her hand.
Her long braid tied up with several silk ribbons hung down to her lower back.
Her pale yellow dress draped to the floor like a blooming flower, bright and full of vitality.
‘This must be Seventh Miss Lin, Lin Ting.’
Duan Ling withdrew his gaze and looked toward the bed.
Duan Xinning was covered with a blanket, eyes tightly shut.
Her hand stretched out from beneath the blanket, gripping Lin Ting’s firmly.
Knowing Duan Xinning as he did, Duan Ling was certain she would be utterly devoted to Lin Ting in the future.
At that moment, the doctor had just finished taking Duan Xinning’s pulse.
He said her body was unharmed; she fainted simply from fright.
After two days of taking sedatives, she would recover completely.
Madam Feng breathed a sigh of relief.
Duan Father stood beside Madam Feng and, hearing the doctor’s words, reached out to hold her hand.
“The doctor said Lingyun is fine. Don’t worry too much. Take care of yourself.”
Their marriage was loving now.
Madam Feng returned his grip even though others were present, then looked at Lin Ting and stepped forward gently and said, “I hear it was you who saved Ling Yun?”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Lin Ting nodded.
Lin Ting was the same age as Duan Xinning, and naturally still showed childlike innocence in her appearance.
Madam Feng’s expression softened at the sight.
Duan Ling approached, stopping a few steps away, “Mother, Father.”
Madam Feng had not noticed when he arrived and so did not know he had heard the doctor’s words so she said again, “The doctor said your sister is unharmed.”
He nodded, “That’s good.”
A gaze came from the direction of the bed and fell on him, both appraising and curious.
Neither was hostile but carried an eerie sense of seeing through everything.
Duan Ling felt strange and quickly turned his head back to the bed.
Lin Ting paused for a moment, then smiled at him.
Duan Ling disliked being stared at so openly.
Though he felt offended, he did not show it and smiled back.
The next moment, he saw Lin Ting put away her smile.
Her eyes changed, shifting from innocence to something dark and sinister, as if following some cold command, switching personalities within a brief instant.
Had he misread her, or was she doing this on purpose?
Duan Ling frowned slightly.
“Did Lingyun get hurt?” Duan Lisheng arrived in a rush upon hearing that Duan Xinning had almost been hit by a horse, sweat pouring down his face.
Duan Ling looked in his direction.
His eldest brother, Duan Lisheng, was a prodigy since youth.
Eleven years his senior, nineteen years old now, he often trained the Imperial Guard under their father’s command.
His skin was tanned like wheat from the sun, and he dressed casually—more like a young general risen from humble origins than a noble young master.
Duan Ling turned his eyes away.
Soon after, he caught Lin Ting sneakily glancing at him, then at Duan Lisheng, and finally at the still-unconscious Duan Xinning.
Her eyes held envy and jealousy.
In noble families, children of four or five were influenced by those around them, becoming mature early, jealous of others, and competing for favor to get what they wanted.
Duan Ling had seen this many times and could tell Lin Ting was jealous of Duan Xinning.
From this, she had not acted out of kindness when saving Duan Xinning.
Duan Ling pretended not to notice and remained silent.
Madam Feng told Duan Lisheng, “Lingyun was just frightened and not injured.”
“Why hasn’t she woken up yet?”
“She fainted, but the doctor said she should wake tonight. Don’t worry.”
“That mad horse—whose was it?” Duan Lisheng was young and fiery, his words brimming with the intent to seek revenge.
“Damn him! I’ll skin him alive.”
Duan Father frowned at his coarse language but, considering his anger over his sister’s danger and desire to stand up for Duan Xinning, he did not scold him.
“Don’t concern yourself with it. I will handle the matter.”
The rider was a royal relative.
Even though the Duan Family had status in Jingcheng, they couldn’t act recklessly.
Duan Father wanted to see how the current Emperor would deal with the offender.
If treated lightly, he would make sure to demand justice.
Duan Lisheng was about to say more.
Madam Feng suddenly said, “Take the two little ones to the back courtyard to play. Your father and I have something to discuss.”
Two little ones?
Who else besides his younger brother Duan Ling?
Duan Xinning was lying on the bed.
Duan Lisheng was puzzled.
“Mother, who are the two…?”
Madam Feng shifted slightly, revealing Lin Ting hidden behind her.
Lin Ting quietly pulled her hand free from Duan Xinning’s grasp, stood up, and looked up at Duan Lisheng.
“Big Brother Duan, Second Brother Duan.” She did not look at Duan Ling when she said his title.
Duan Lisheng waved to Lin Ting in greeting and asked, “Who is she?”
He had arrived in haste and hadn’t yet asked about the incident.
Duan Ling replied succinctly, “Seventh Miss Lin saved Lingyun.”
Only then did Lin Ting glance at him again.
Duan Lisheng half-crouched and looked at little Lin Ting.
“So you’re the one who saved my sister.”
With that, he scooped her up with one arm, took Duan Ling’s hand with the other, and headed out.
“Come on, Big Brother will take you to play.”
In the back courtyard, Duan Lisheng set Lin Ting down and let go of Duan Ling’s hand, crouching again with a bright, infectious smile.
Perhaps because of his tanned skin, his two rows of white teeth were striking when he smiled.
He asked, “What do you want to play?”
Duan Ling was uninterested in playing.
“Big Brother, I won’t.”
“Don’t say that.” Duan Lisheng pulled him with a grin.
“You’re still young. It’s good to play now. When you grow up, I’ll have to supervise your martial training, and you won’t have time to play.”
Lin Ting’s eyes darted around, and she pointed at the swing.
“I want to play on the swing.”
“Great! Big Brother will take you on the swing.” Duan Lisheng first put Duan Ling on the swing, then Lin Ting.
The two delicate little ones together looked like porcelain dolls.
He happily clapped his hands.
Duan Ling glanced sideways at Lin Ting.
Half her body was pressed against his; their clothes brushed together.
He hated unnecessary physical contact with strangers and silently shifted to the other side of the swing.
Lin Ting noticed and thought he disliked her, so she deliberately pressed closer to annoy him, calling him “Second Brother Duan” with every breath.
Duan Ling looked into her eyes, wanting to see if she would show that strange expression again, to understand why she did so.
But after a long gaze, she never revealed that look again.
He felt an inexplicable twinge of regret.
Lin Ting tilted her head innocently and asked, “Second Brother Duan, why are you looking at me like that?”
Duan Ling’s expression softened and he replied, “I just wanted to remind Seventh Miss Lin to hold the ropes tightly when swinging. Otherwise, you’ll fall.”
Lin Ting stopped crowding him and grabbed the ropes.
Duan Lisheng began to push the swing once they were steady.
“Want me to push it higher?”
“Yes.”
Duan Ling said nothing.
“All right, hold tight, or I’ll throw you off.” Duan Lisheng pushed the swing higher.
Lin Ting cheered, “So fun, Big Brother Duan, higher!”
Her voice echoed right beside Duan Ling’s ear.
***
Back at the Duan mansion, after dinner, Duan Ling returned to his study to continue reading.
After half an hour, he prepared ink and opened his diary to record the day’s events.
He wrote and scratched out several times, finally leaving just one line: Met a strange person named Lin Ting, Seventh Miss of the Lin Family.