Upon hearing this, Lin Ting set down her bowl.
“You go ahead with your duties. I’ll return on my own.”
Duan Ling glanced at her and selected two guards from the approaching Imperial Guards to escort her back to the residence before promptly leaving.
News of the rebel army’s advance quickly spread, finally stirring some reaction among the citizens of Ancheng.
On her way back, Lin Ting noticed the streets had abruptly emptied, pedestrians dwindled, shops shuttered their doors, and the once- bustling thoroughfare now lay desolate and cold.
After a few steps, she turned to the guards and asked curiously about the rebels, “With the Crown Prince injured in an assassination attempt, the rebels choose now to attack. Is your commander assisting the Marquis?”
They shared what they could:
“The commander is merely investigating the situation personally.”
The Imperial Guards rarely involved themselves directly in warfare.
At this, Lin Ting blurted out, “Then is he in any danger?”
The two guards, aware they were newlyweds, exchanged a glance and reassured her, “There’s no need to worry. The commander will be fine.”
Realizing she’d strayed from the topic, Lin Ting steered the conversation back.
“Aside from the Marquis, are there any other generals stationed in Ancheng?”
Given her circumstances, concern for the city’s safety was natural, and her question hardly touched on classified matters.
The guards answered respectfully, “Apart from the Marquis, there are two other generals who have been guarding Ancheng for years, along with the Xia heir.”
She feigned confusion.
“The Xia heir?”
Duan Ling was far too perceptive and often turned the tables on her.
Lin Ting dared not inquire about Xia Zimo in his presence, fearing suspicion, but subtle probing through others was safe.
Besides, she hadn’t directly asked about Xia Zimo-she’d guided the guards into mentioning him first, then followed up naturally.
A flawless tactic.
Her mind buzzed with calculations.
Noticing her puzzlement, the guards added, “Though the Xia heir isn’t yet a general, the Marquis intends to bring him to the battlefield.”
Seizing the opportunity, Lin Ting probed further, “So Xia Zimo is currently with the Marquis, preparing to engage the enemy?”
“Yes.”
Mission accomplished—she’d obtained information about Xia Zimo.
Relaxing, Lin Ting asked a few more inconsequential questions.
As they neared the residence, she spotted Ta Xueningning , who should have been in the capital.
Her steps faltered as she looked ahead.
A chilly wind howled, swaying the lanterns in front of the carriage. Ta Xuening stood beside it, bundled heavily against the mild cold as if winter had arrived, his fur cloak excessive for the season.
Clutching a hand warmer, his face paler than before, his gloomy, piercing eyes slid toward her with a sidelong glance.
Lin Ting met his gaze defiantly.
The guards immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her as they bowed.
“Supervisor.”
Ta Xuening remained still, adjusting his collar with a cold smirk, ignoring them.Â
“Seventh Miss Lin, long time no see.”
“Supervisor.”
Narrowing his eyes, his tone carried a hint of exasperation.
“You actually followed Commander Duan to Ancheng. How bold.”
Lin Ting slowly stepped out from behind the guards, standing firm against the wind as she studied Ta Xuening, unable to decipher his intentions.Â
With a forced smile, she replied, “That’s none of your concern, Supervisor.”
Ta Xuening took a step forward and asked, “Aren’t you afraid of dying in Ancheng, Seventh Miss Lin?”
“Is the Superintendent threatening me?”
He adjusted his collar and quickly placed his hands over the hand warmer, speaking with a mocking tone, “Commander Duan is the emperor’s favorite. Now that Miss Lin Qi has married him, how would I dare threaten you?”
Lin Ting could easily detect the sarcasm in Ta Xuening’s voice.
“May I ask why the Superintendent has come today? Looking for Duan Ling? He’s not here. If you wish to find him, you can inquire at the government office.”
The entrance to this street was just a few steps away from the residence.
She didn’t believe Ta Xuening had merely passed by; he must have come here deliberately.
Ta Xuening raised an eyebrow and replied, “I’m not here for Commander Duan. I’m here for you.”
“For me?”
Lin Ting remained outwardly calm but inwardly wary.
“What does the Superintendent want with me?”
She only had two imperial guards with her, while Ta Xuening was accompanied by over a dozen men.
If a fight broke out, her chances of winning were slim.
Ta Xuening suddenly asked, “What comes to mind when you see me in Ancheng today?”
She fell into thought.
The Eastern Depot wouldn’t secretly come to Ancheng without Emperor Jiade’s knowledge-not with the imperial guards stationed here.Â
Their presence would inevitably be noticed.
Therefore, Ta Xuening’s appearance in Ancheng meant he had been sent by the emperor.
Emperor Jiade had already dispatched imperial guards to investigate Ancheng.
Now, he had also sent the Eastern Depot.
There were only two possibilities: either he considered Ancheng critically important and couldn’t afford any mishaps, or he no longer trusted Duan Ling.
If it were the former, Lin Ting wouldn’t be too concerned.
But if it were the latter, she had reason to worry.
There was an old saying: “When the ruler demands a subject’s death, the subject has no choice but to die.”
If the emperor grew suspicious of a subject, their situation became perilous.
But why would Emperor Jiade suddenly distrust Duan Ling?
Did he suspect the imperial guards might betray the Great Yan?
Lin Ting countered, “What should I think upon seeing you in Ancheng today?”
Ta Xuening knew she wasn’t foolish-she must have already figured it out but refused to answer.
“No one can hold the emperor’s trust forever -not even Commander Duan.”
She maintained a polite smile, her words carefully measured.
“I truly don’t understand what you mean.”
He flicked his sleeve and replied, “You’re clever, how could you not understand? Or perhaps you simply don’t want to. I warned you before that Commander Duan’s glory wouldn’t last long, yet you still married him.”
Lin Ting let his words go in one ear and out the other, cutting straight to the point.
“I’ve always wondered why you keep saying these things to me?”
Ta Xuening ignored her question, continuing as if talking to herself.Â
“You have a friend from the martial world, don’t you? Jin Anazi? I think he’s quite suitable. Why not divorce Duan Ling and…”
Lin Ting frowned.
As the Superintendent of the Eastern Depot, it was no surprise he knew about her friendship with Jin Anazi.
But his suggestion was bizarre -was he really urging her to divorce Duan Ling and be with Jin Anazi?
Honestly, Lin Ting was beginning to suspect Ta Xuening might be mentally unwell.
First, he had advised her against marrying Duan Ling.
Now that they were married, he had come to persuade her to divorce him.
And today, he had brazenly spoken these words in front of two imperial guards.
Lin Ting had heard enough.
Her forced smile faded.
“Superintendent, please mind your words. I won’t divorce Duan Ling—at least not now. Besides, this is our private matter. There’s no need for your concern.”
Ta Xuening’s gaze grew even colder.
If she refused to divorce Duan Ling, when the day came that the Great Yan was overthrown, she would surely suffer for it.
Duan Ling was a medicine person, his body extraordinary and immune to all poisons.
Yet medicine people had short lifespans, and only Emperor Jiade knew the method to restore them to normalcy.
The Duan family would never betray Emperor Jiade, and the new dynasty would never tolerate their unwavering loyalty to him.
This was also why Emperor Jiade trusted the Duan family and rarely suspected them of betrayal.
Thus, Ta Xuening had never considered trying to win them over or persuade them to join Xie Qinghe in rebellion-doing so would only alert Emperor Jiade to his plans to overthrow the Great Yan.
Seeing that he couldn’t convince Lin Ting to divorce Duan Ling, Ta Xuening didn’t press further, merely saying, “In that case, I hope you won’t regret it later.”
Lin Ting strode past him into the residence, ordering the imperial guards to lock the gate.
Once the door was securely shut, she shed her composed facade and peeked through the crack, watching until Ta Xuening’s carriage departed before relaxing.
After confirming that her mother, Li Jingqiu, didn’t know Ta Xuening, Lin Ting had told Duan Ling everything about his actions.
He had promised to investigate, but she didn’t know how far he had gotten.
She decided to ask him when he returned.
Night fell, the moonlight like water, the residence silent save for the rustling wind.
Lin Ting, waiting for Duan Ling’s return, dozed off at the table.
The wind left no trace, but the candlelight flickered, casting several shadows that crept toward her in silence, intending to take her away.
She jolted awake, scattering knockout powder.
Two men failed to dodge in time and collapsed unconscious.
Lin Ting grabbed a chair and hurled it at the others, preventing them from seizing her; her martial arts training proved somewhat useful.
But they were too numerous and skilled, putting her at a severe disadvantage.
Worse, she was surrounded, unable to maneuver or escape.
She shouted for help, but the imperial guards in the residence gave no response.
Lin Ting guessed they had been incapacitated.
With Duan Ling still absent, she had to rely on herself.
The best strategy was flight-Lin Ting bolted for the door, but the moment her hand touched the handle, a sharp blow struck the back of her neck.
The attacker’s skill far surpassed the others, rivaling even Jin Anazi.
There was no dodging it.
As she fell, Lin Ting saw the sachet at her waist come loose, rolling onto the stone floor, dust clinging to it.
Then… darkness swallowed her.
When she awoke again, she found herself in an unfamiliar tent.
Rubbing her aching neck, she cursed the one who had knocked her out before sitting up to survey her surroundings.
The tent held only a collapsible wooden bed, a table, and a chair-nothing more.