Lin Ting was dumbfounded.
The final task was actually to drug the male lead, Xia Zimo-it had nothing to do with Duan Ling?
The system ignored her shock and continued narrating the plot:
[Shortly after the male lead and female lead decide to marry, the host must purchase an aphrodisiac, hide it in the residence, and administer it to Xia Zimo. The host must ensure absolute secrecy during the mission, revealing nothing to anyone.]
[Before that, starting today, the host must also follow the original villainess subplot-inquiring about Xia Zimo’s whereabouts every five days and appearing before him every ten days for a brief encounter.]
Lin Ting: “…”
[The task must be completed within three months from the day the male and female leads decide to marry. Failure results in elimination.]
[This is Villainess Mission Eight. Upon success, you will receive the second grand reward-the option to eliminate the system.]
The system’s voice remained icy and emotionless as it repeated the fact that she could destroy it.
After hearing this, Lin Ting, who had just risen from her chair, slumped back down.
Her head was pounding.
She had speculated about what the final task might be, but she assumed it would involve Duan Ling, since all previous missions had revolved around him.
She had mentally rehearsed only scenarios related to him-never did she expect this task would involve drugging Xia Zimo.
Before transmigrating into the novel, Lin Ting had nearly exploded with rage when she read this part.
Even after the male and female leads decided to marry, the villainess clung to a sliver of hope, constantly gathering intel on Xia Zimo, seizing every chance to appear before him, desperately trying to stay relevant in his life—all in hopes of driving them apart before the wedding.
But hadn’t Xia Zimo said he wouldn’t propose for now?
Would he suddenly change his mind and seek Duan Xinning’s hand in marriage again?
Who did he think he was, to marry or not marry on a whim?
Lin Ting pushed the annoying mission aside. S
ince Xia Zimo was here today, she might as well get some answers.
She stood and headed out.
“Fine, I’ll go see him.”
Duan Ling: “I’ll go with you.”
Lin Ting paused mid-step and replied:
“No need. You haven’t slept all night-stay and rest.”
Duan Ling also rose up and said in his tone gentle:
“Lingyun is my sister. As her second brother, it’s only right that I take an interest in her affairs.”
That was reasonable.
Lin Ting couldn’t argue.
Very well-she’d just have to make sure not to mention what Xia Zimo and Duan Xinning had done.
“Alright.”
She hurried outside.
Before even reaching the main gate of the Duan residence, she spotted a lone figure standing beyond it.
Who else could it be but Xia Zimo?
Despite the cool breeze, he was dressed thinly, his face gaunt and weary, his eyes dull.
He had lost weight, standing there so frail that a stronger gust might have blown him away.
Lin Ting quickened her pace, stepped through the gate, crossed her arms, and glared at him.
“What do you want to say to me?”
Duan Ling stood behind her.
“Miss Lin Qi,” Xia Zimo began hesitantly upon seeing him, then nodded.
“Second Young Master Duan.”
As Duan Xinning’s brother, Xia Zimo had wronged her and felt ashamed facing her family.
Part of the reason he sought Lin Ting was because she was Duan Xinning’s close friend-but this was also a factor.
Yet Duan Ling merely offered Xia Zimo a faint smile, his demeanor unchanged despite the history between him and Duan Xinning.
“Young Master Xia.”
Xia Zimo turned to Lin Ting and pleaded, “Miss Lin Qi, could you persuade Lingyun for me? I truly wish to see her one last time.”
Lin Ting remained expressionless.
“Since you’ve decided not to propose, what’s the point of seeing her?”
With shameless persistence, Xia Zimo said, “I just… I just want to see Lingyun one final time. Please, Miss Lin Qi, grant me this favor.”
He knew Lin Ting and Duan Xinning were closest, sharing everything.
If Lin Ting agreed to persuade her, Duan Xinning would listen.
Lin Ting had thought he’d changed his mind—that he would apologize to Duan Xinning and then propose.
But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
Yet, since the system had issued this task, it meant they would reconcile soon, perhaps even decide to marry.
Though Lin Ting could guess Xia Zimo might have his reasons-like some cliché novel plot-it didn’t stop her from being angry.
She shot him a disdainful glance and retorted sharply, “One last time? Are you dying?”
He choked.
“No, my father has been ordered by His Majesty to defend Ancheng against the rebels. I’ll be accompanying him.”
It was common knowledge that Xie Qinghe’s forces had reached Ancheng, a crucial stronghold for the Great Yan.
If Xie Qinghe seized it, the empire would be in grave danger.
Though Emperor Jiade had previously sent Yang Liangyu to suppress the rebellion, for some reason, her health had deteriorated.
Despite initial victories, she had grown too weak to continue, and recent reports said she was bedridden.
Emperor Jiade had no choice but to send someone else.
To boost morale, the emperor planned to dispatch the Crown Prince himself to hold Ancheng and crush the rebels once and for all.
Xia Zimo’s father, Marquis Shian, would assist him.
Few knew of this yet, but by tomorrow, the imperial decree would be public.
So, Xia Zimo’s early disclosure wouldn’t matter.
Lin Ting’s expression remained cold, her gaze piercing.
“His Majesty ordered you to go too?”
Marquis Shian commanded troops and had battle experience sending him made sense.
But why Xia Zimo?
“No, I chose to go.”
Xia Zimo avoided her eyes, looking past her toward the Duan residence, though he saw only servants passing through the corridors—no sign of Duan Xinning.
Lin Ting frowned.
“Why do you want to go to Ancheng?”
Concern for his father’s safety?
He dodged the question.
“I truly wish to see Lingyun before I leave. Miss Lin Qi, I beg you please persuade her.”
“When are you leaving the capital?”
If Xia Zimo departed, how could she appear before him every ten days until the task began?
Every condition set by the system had to be met, or the mission wouldn’t count as complete.
Xia Zimo replied, “Tomorrow.”
Tomorrow?
Then she’d have to go to Ancheng too-otherwise, she couldn’t fulfill the requirement of appearing before him every ten days.
The system only demanded her presence, not any specific action.
Scolding or hitting him would suffice.
But what excuse could she use to go to Ancheng?
Lin Ting’s head throbbed with frustration.
“Is this why you won’t propose? Afraid you won’t return alive from Ancheng, so you call it a ‘final meeting’?”
This wasn’t in the original plot-it was an added twist.
Xia Zimo fell silent for a moment before answering ambiguously, “You could think of it that way.”
Still avoiding a direct answer to her question, Lin Ting couldn’t take it anymore and was about to kick him again when Duan Ling pulled her back before her leg could even lift.
Lin Ting tilted her head to look at Duan Ling, clearly questioning why he stopped her from kicking Xia Zimo.
Duan Ling calmly rubbed Lin Ting’s wrist, signaling her to look behind them:
“Lingyun is here. Let her handle this.”
Duan Xinning had come out?
Lin Ting turned around and saw her indeed emerging, walking so quickly it was almost a jog as she approached Xia Zimo.
Seeing Duan Xinning appear, Xia Zimo’s eyes lit up, and he immediately stepped forward and said:
“Lingyun.”
But she slapped him instead, her eyes slightly red as she said, “Why are you even here?”
After Lin Ting had met with Xia Zimo that day, she had returned to the estate and told Duan Xinning everything.
She already knew he was going back on his promise and wouldn’t be coming to propose.
This was the first time Duan Xinning had ever hit someone, and her hand trembled slightly.
Xia Zimo looked at her, raising his hand as if to touch her face, but remembering their current relationship, he lowered it again, keeping his distance:
“I’m sorry. It’s my fault for failing you.”
Duan Xinning turned her face away, refusing to look at him, gripping her handkerchief tightly as she held back tears.
“Did Young Master Xia come today just to say this one sentence?”
“I’m sorry.”
He repeated the same words.
Lin Ting couldn’t stand it anymore.
If she were in Duan Xinning’s place, she wouldn’t have settled for just one slap-she wouldn’t be satisfied until he was beaten black and blue.
Duan Xinning had always been a bit of a crybaby, prone to tears over small matters, let alone something like this.
She must have cried countless times already, but today, she didn’t shed a single tear in front of Xia Zimo.
Lin Ting knew Duan Xinning was barely holding it together right now, so she reached out and took her hand.
As if drawing courage from Lin Ting’s touch, Duan Xinning finally met Xia Zimo’s gaze and spoke deliberately, word by word:
“Young Master Xia, please leave. From now on, we go our separate ways.”
With that, she let go of Lin Ting and turned to go back inside.
Xia Zimo chased after her a few steps.
The servants, knowing his status, didn’t stop him.
But he halted again, remaining outside the estate: “Lingyun.”
Hearing him call her name, Duan Xinning couldn’t help but pause, hoping to hear something more from him.
Yet he said nothing further.
Her heart turned cold, and without another glance, she left with her maids, leaving the others behind.
With her gone, Lin Ting had no reason to stay either.
She threw a final “You’d better watch yourself” at Xia Zimo before heading back inside to find Duan Xinning.
Duan Ling remained outside, asking Xia Zimo the same question Lin Ting had:
“Why does Young Master Xia want to go to Ancheng?”
As the heir to the Shian Marquisate, Xia Zimo already held considerable status.
Unless ordered by the emperor, he didn’t need military achievements to secure his position.
This time, Xia Zimo didn’t evade the question:
“I don’t want to be a useless, spoiled heir. That’s why I want to go to Ancheng with my father.”
Duan Ling gave no indication whether he believed him or not, simply smiling as he said, “I see.”
“Lord Duan.”
Xia Zimo suddenly changed his form of address, looking directly at him and lowering his voice.
“His Majesty may send you to Ancheng as well.”
Duan Ling slowly withdrew his gaze from where Lin Ting had disappeared, rubbing the fingers that had just held hers, his expression unchanged.
“And what of it?”
Xia Zimo seemed momentarily dazed.
The Jiade Emperor was inherently suspicious.
While dispatching the Imperial Guards to Ancheng to gather intelligence, he would undoubtedly have them monitor the Crown Prince and the defending Marquis Shian as well-
Their every move was being recorded.
In truth, this was something everyone tacitly understood it served as a warning to those who might consider causing trouble in secret.
Currently, the Emperor Jiade trusted Duan Ling of the Imperial Guards the most and would likely send him to Ancheng.
However, Xia Zimo didn’t want Duan Ling to go.