Chapter 78: Lin Can’t Hear (1/2)

The private room was in complete disarray after Lin Ting’s rampage.

Duan Ling stepped over the torn bead curtains on the floor and approached them.

“Young Master Xia.”

“Lord Duan.”

Upon seeing him, Xia Zimo instinctively glanced at Xie Qinghe, wanting to tell him to leave but unable to voice it at this moment it would seem too abrupt and raise suspicions.

Xie Qinghe, however, was looking at Lin Ting.

The veil blocked others’ gazes as well as his own vision, so Lin Ting appeared as a slightly blurred figure in his eyes.

Yet in his mind, he could clearly picture her face.

They hadn’t seen each other for months, and he’d heard she had married Duan Ling.

Lin Ting seemed to be doing well.

When she lifted her veil earlier, he noticed her rosy complexion-she might have even gained some weight.

Xie Qinghe often reminisced about their time together at the study.

Jin Anazi was outwardly cold but warm-hearted, while Lin Ting was carefree and lively.

Whenever the two were together, the atmosphere would instantly become livelier.

But he could never return to those days, nor would he have another chance to experience such a life again.

Even his wish to cook for them one more time would likely remain unfulfilled.

A pang of regret struck Xie Qinghe.

Unaware of his thoughts, Lin Ting recalled how Xie Qinghe had tried to send physicians to treat her and Jin Anazi during the plague outbreak.

The most she could do now was pretend not to have seen him today and not interfere further.

Worst case scenario, if Duan Ling discovered the “woman” in the room was actually Xie Qinghe, she could claim she never removed his veil and didn’t know it was him in disguise.

But what was Xia Zimo’s deal?

Lin Ting had heard from Duan Xinning that Xia Zimo and Xie Qinghe were acquainted.

This wasn’t surprising their fathers served together in court, so some interaction was inevitable.

Emperor Jiade wouldn’t suspect anything either, as the Xie family had associated with many officials before their downfall.

After the Xie family’s property was confiscated, all ties were immediately severed.

The Marquis of Shi’an did the same even knowing the emperor’s intentions, he didn’t plead for the Xies, cutting all connections clean.

Several ministers who interceded for the Xie family were later imprisoned on fabricated charges, while the Marquis of Shi’an’s household successfully distanced itself.

So why would Xia Zimo meet Xie Qinghe after arriving in Ancheng?

Lin Ting considered two possibilities.

First, Xia Zimo and Xie Qinghe had been close friends in the capital, and this meeting was to persuade him to abandon his current path.

Second, Xia Zimo had already “betrayed the state” outwardly loyal to Great Yan while accompanying his father to war, but secretly allied with Xie Qinghe, meeting today to discuss their next steps.

This would also explain why Xia Zimo didn’t seek Duan Xinning’s hand in marriage.

Yet Xia Zimo held a high position in Great Yan as a privileged heir.

Barring major mistakes, he’d live comfortably for life.

Why risk rebellion?

Failure would mean the extermination of his entire clan.

Was it for greater power?

History had no shortage of high-ranking rebels.

But then did his father, the Marquis of Shi’an, know about this?

Lost in thought, Lin Ting walked over to where Duan Ling stood facing them.

Duan Ling watched her approach.

Without regard for their audience, he took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Lin Ting’s forehead.

She had run upstairs and smashed things, working up a sweat that dampened her stray hairs.

Beads of sweat clung to his forehead and cheeks.

Lin Ting snatched the handkerchief away and wiped his face himself.

His gentle motions always managed to unsettle her heart.

Duan Ling let Lin Ting do as she pleased, but his fingertips brushed against the sweat-dampened strands of hair sticking to her face, tucking them aside.

Then, with a smile, he turned to Xia Zimo: “Young Master Xia, still in the mood to drink at a brothel?”

Xia Zimo remained silent.

Duan Ling glanced at the silent “woman” beside him and continued, “Didn’t you say you no longer wanted to be a clueless, spoiled noble heir? That’s why you followed the Marquis to Ancheng-to make something of yourself?”

Xie Qinghe knew Duan Ling couldn’t see him through the veil covering his entire face, yet he still turned his head slightly, avoiding his gaze.

Lin Ting didn’t make a sound.

Duan Ling’s eyes lingered on Xie Qinghe as if trying to see through the veil, but he addressed Xia Zimo instead:

“Not only did Young Master Xia come to a brothel, but you also brought a woman along. Does this mean you’ve truly lost interest in Lingyun?”

At the mention of Duan Xinning, a flicker of conflict passed through Xia Zimo’s eyes.

“I have no relationship with the Third Miss Duan. So what if I came to a brothel and brought a woman? Is that any of your business, Lord Duan?”

With that, Xia Zimo grabbed Xie Qinghe’s hand and moved to step past Duan Ling, leaving the private room.

The door of the room had been kicked in by Lin Ting and couldn’t be closed properly, so it made sense for him to find another place to continue his revelry.

Lin Ting didn’t follow.

Duan Ling surveyed the room briefly before suddenly calling out, “Young Master Xia.”

Xia Zimo stiffened, facing the exit without turning back.

Though uneasy, his tone remained steady.

“What else do you want, Lord Duan?”

Duan Ling offered what seemed like well-meaning advice.

“You’re injured. Shouldn’t you tend to your wounds before leaving?”

Lin Ting hadn’t held back when she struck Xia Zimo earlier.

His face bore several scratches, and beads of blood still seeped from the cuts.

As a noble heir, Xia Zimo rarely suffered injuries.

The small wounds stung sharply now.

“No need. They’re just minor scratches.”

He didn’t blame Lin Ting for hitting him—nor did he have the right to.

Like the kick she’d given him before, this was something he deserved.

Duan Ling didn’t press further.

Xia Zimo strode away without pause, as if annoyed by the interruption to his fun.

Before leaving, Xie Qinghe cast one last glance at Lin Ting.

Their eyes met briefly through the veil before he quickly turned away and followed Xia Zimo.

Lin Ting stared in the direction they’d disappeared, momentarily lost in thought.

Xia Zimo had feelings for Duan Xinning and would eventually marry her, achieving a happy ending.

Even if he and Xie Qinghe were plotting something in Ancheng, he wouldn’t harm Duan Ling… right?

Duan Ling was also looking outside.

“So, by ‘dealing with Xia Zimo,’ you meant beating him up?”

Lin Ting snapped out of her thoughts.

“Hitting him once was already going easy on him.”

Xia Zimo should be grateful she hadn’t caught him actually soliciting a woman at the brothel.

He took her hand, examining the redness on her palm from throwing objects at Xia Zimo, and slowly traced his fingers over it.

“It was indeed lenient. But don’t you want to know what the woman beside him looks like?”

“No matter whats looks like, in my heart, she could never compare to Lingyun.”

Duan Ling neither agreed nor disagreed.

Lin Ting rubbed her nose, unaccustomed to the overpowering scent of perfumes and powders unique to brothels, and was ready to leave.

“Let’s go. We should head back.”

Duan Ling released her hand.

“Back? Don’t you want to stroll around the streets a bit more?”

He didn’t seem the least bit affected by Xia Zimo’s actions.

“No, I’m tired.”

She did enjoy lively places, but right now, she wanted somewhere quiet to think-to sort through her thoughts about Xia Zimo and Xie Qinghe.

Moreover, today she had thoroughly beaten Xia Zimo to vent Duan Xinning’s anger, and indirectly completed the task of meeting Xia Zimo every ten days.

There was no need to linger any longer.

Duan Ling agreed, “Since you’re tired, let’s go back. We can stroll another day.”

Lin Ting walked out but then turned back to look at the door she had kicked in.

She reached for the purse at her waist and asked, “How much silver does it cost to break a door in a brothel?”

Duan Ling bent down to pick up the sachet Lin Ting had dropped, brushed off nonexistent dust, and reattached it to her waistband, tying it securely.

Seeing him lower his head to fasten the sachet, Lin Ting exclaimed in surprise, “How did the sachet fall off?”

Then it dawned on her-it must have come loose when she was fighting Xia Zimo.

Her movements had been too vigorous, and anything tied to her would have swung wildly.

The heavy purse at her waist would have been noticeable if it fell, but the lightweight sachet could go unnoticed.

Duan Ling’s slender fingers lingered at her waist for a moment before he straightened up and looked at her, a faint smile on his lips.

“You’re always losing things-first the golden hairpin, now the sachet.”

Lin Ting raised her hand as if swearing an oath.

“I’ll change this bad habit of being careless, I promise!”

He said nothing more.

Lin Ting pulled him downstairs to find the brothel owner.

Her conscience wouldn’t allow her to walk away after kicking in someone’s door.

She got straight to the point: “I broke your door. How much do I owe you?”

The brothel owner looked startled and quickly waved his hands.

“It’s fine, no need to compensate. As long as you and the lord are happy.”

What did he mean by “as long as she was happy”?

The words sounded odd.

Though reluctant, Lin Ting still took out her small purse she had returned the one Duan Ling gave her the day before.

“No, I won’t feel right if I don’t pay. Just tell me how much.”

The brothel owner looked as if he was about to kneel.

Lin Ting swiftly caught him, bewildered.

“What are you doing? I’m offering to pay, not threatening your life.”

Hesitantly, the owner held up five fingers, then quickly retracted four, ingratiatingly saying, “One tael of silver.”

She left five taels and walked away.

The brothel was quite far from their residence, so they took a carriage back.

Along the way, Lin Ting leaned against the small window, lifting the curtain to observe the people on the street.

“The commoners in Ancheng seem terrified of officials.”

Duan Ling tapped lightly on the seat, indifferent.

“No commoner is unafraid of officials.”

She felt an indescribable unease and propped her chin on her hand.

“I know that, but they’re excessively afraid as if officials are death gods.”

The commoners in the capital didn’t react this way.

Though they also feared government officials, as long as they hadn’t committed any crimes, they wouldn’t tremble at the sight of them.

Business went on as usual.

Changing the subject, Lin Ting asked, “By the way, you’re off duty today. What about tomorrow?”

Duan Ling’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, but his voice remained gentle, like a spring breeze.

“I need to meet with Ancheng’s officials. Do you still want to go out tomorrow?”

Lin Ting shrugged.

“No, I’ll stop by the bookstore ahead to buy some novels and stay in my room reading tomorrow-nowhere else.”

She remembered there was a bookstore along the way.

“Ancheng has been unsettled lately. I’ll leave two Imperial Guards to watch the residence tomorrow.”