Chapter 37: The army was routed (1/2)

Lin Ting noticed that Duan Ling didn’t want to talk about his illness, so she didn’t press further. 

After all, they weren’t the kind of relationship where they could share everything. 

A polite, surface-level concern was enough.

“I hope Lord Duan recovers soon,” she said after a moment of hesitation, still handing over the handkerchief she was holding. 

“You should wipe the blood off. Losing so much blood-doesn’t it make you dizzy? Are all members of the Imperial Guards this resilient?”

Duan Ling wasn’t particularly bothered by the blood flowing from his wrist; it was something he was used to. 

He hadn’t noticed it earlier and thus hadn’t wiped it off. 

Absentmindedly, he glanced at the handkerchief Lin Ting handed him, his gaze pausing.

The bright orange handkerchief was embroidered with a few crooked green worms.

Lin Ting followed his gaze and realized she had accidentally handed him one of the handkerchiefs she had embroidered herself. 

Not long ago, Li Jingqiu had insisted she learn embroidery, starting with simple flowers and plants. 

However, her attempts were far from presentable. 

This particular handkerchief was no exception-the grass she had tried to embroider ended up looking more like worms.

Li Jingqiu, with her discerning eye, had criticized Lin Ting’s work, calling it ugly and suggesting she throw it away to avoid embarrassment, especially if Madam Shen saw it and spread rumors. 

But Lin Ting didn’t discard it. 

She didn’t think it was that bad—after all, she had stitched it herself, and the silk used for the handkerchief wasn’t cheap. 

If it wasn’t pretty enough to give as a gift, she could at least keep it for herself.

Seeing which handkerchief it was, Lin Ting quickly reached to take it back, intending to exchange it for another one. 

“I’ll get you a different—” Before she could finish, Duan Ling had already taken it. 

He ran his fingers over the uniquely “artistic” embroidery and asked with a smile, 

“Thank you, Miss Lin Qi. Did you embroider this yourself?”

Lin Ting scratched her chin, feeling a rare sense of embarrassment. 

“Yes, I did.”

Duan Ling pressed the handkerchief between his fingers and chuckled. 

“Miss Lin Qi, your craftsmanship is quite impressive. These worms are quite lifelike. I’ve never seen anyone embroider something like this before. It’s quite distinctive.”

At the first part of his compliment, Lin Ting felt a small surge of happiness-finally, someone appreciated her work. 

But when she heard the latter part, her smile froze on her face.

Worms? 

What worms?

Lin Ting tried to correct him. 

“Lord Duan, you’re too kind. But I should clarify those aren’t worms. They’re supposed to be grass. Maybe take a closer look? They’re definitely not worms, they’re grass.”

Duan Ling actually did lean in, examining the embroidery under the moonlight, before looking back at her. 

“My mistake. I must have misjudged. They are indeed grass.”

Lin Ting coughed awkwardly. 

“By the way, why didn’t Madam Feng and Ling Yun come to see you off?”

As she spoke, the smooth handkerchief slipped from Duan Ling’s palm, but he caught it with a flick of his fingers. 

“It’s common for Imperial Guards to leave the capital on assignments. There’s no need for them to come and go to see me off.”

Lin Ting returned to the main topic. 

“Lord Duan, about what happened today, I—”

He remained as gentle as ever. 

“It was the wine’s fault. You’re not to blame. Besides, you’ve already apologized multiple times. Do you think I’d kill you over this? Am I really that unreasonable in your eyes?”

Lin Ting, quick with her words, replied, 

“Lord Duan, you’re the most reasonable person I know. It’s just that I feel terribly guilty about it.” 

Duan Ling smiled but didn’t respond.

“I won’t mention this to anyone, and I won’t let it damage your reputation,” 

Lin Ting added, then shifted the conversation. 

“Lord Duan, are you really not angry? You’re not thinking of killing me, are you?”

“I’m not angry,” Duan Ling said, tucking the handkerchief away with a faint smile. 

“Does that put your mind at ease, Miss Lin Qi?”

She let out a sigh of relief. 

“Then I wish you a safe journey and a swift return.”

Duan Ling nodded. 

“Thank you for your kind words.”

With that, the carriage curtain fell, cutting off their view of each other. 

The carriage soon left the city gates, disappearing into the heavy night outside the city.

Lin Ting turned and left without hesitation, with Tao Zhu following closely behind.

Somehow, Li Jingqiu had learned that Lin Ting had gone to the city gates to see Duan Ling off. 

She was sitting in Tingling Courtyard, smiling broadly, waiting for Lin Ting to return. 

“You’re back.”

Lin Ting, exhausted from the day’s events, was eager to take a hot bath and get a good night’s sleep. 

“Mother, why are you here at this hour?” 

Li Jingqiu put down the watermelon she was eating. 

“I heard you went to the city gates to see Lord Duan off?”

“Who told you that?”

“Never mind who told me. Just answer the question.” 

The servant in charge of the Lin family’s carriages had been hired by Li Jingqiu herself, so it wasn’t difficult for her to find out where Lin Ting had gone.

From Li Jingqiu’s tone, Lin Ting knew there was no point in hiding it. 

“Yes, I went to see him. But it’s not what you think. I had some important matters to discuss with him-matters related to human life.”

Li Jingqiu was momentarily confused. 

“Matters related to human life?”

Then, as realization dawned, she panicked. 

“You’re not involved in some murder case, are you? Did you ask Lord Duan to help you cover it up? I’ve told you to behave yourself, but you never listen!”

Tao Zhu, standing nearby, couldn’t take it anymore. 

“Madam, it’s not like that. Miss Qi went to see Lord Duan off because—”

Li Jingqiu cut her off. 

“You stay out of this. Lin Ting, you tell me.”

At this point, Lin Ting realized that her mother’s imagination was even wilder than Tao Zhu’s. 

“Mother, what are you thinking? I’m not involved in any murder case.”

Li Jingqiu patted her chest, relieved, then lightly pinched Lin Ting’s arm. 

“You scared me to death, talking about matters related to human life. If you ever say such nonsense again, I’ll make you kneel in the ancestral hall and copy Buddhist scriptures a hundred times.”

Lin Ting shrugged, not believing for a second that Li Jingqiu would actually punish her like that.

“What did Lord Duan say before he left? Did he say when he’d be back? Is it dangerous to go to Suzhou?” 

Li Jingqiu circled back to the topic, determined to find out how their interaction had gone.

Lin Ting’s father was also an official, and Li Jingqiu had heard him mention the unrest in Suzhou.

Lin Ting lied without hesitation. 

“He said he doesn’t like me, that he finds me annoying, and told me not to bother him. He didn’t say when he’d be back, and I’m not sure if it’s dangerous.”

Li Jingqiu didn’t believe her. 

“Impossible. Lord Duan would never say such things.”

She had heard that although Duan Ling was an Imperial Guard, he was known for his excellent manners. 

In the capital, he was famous for being gentle and courteous to everyone, especially women.

He would never speak harshly to a lady.

Caught in her lie, Lin Ting didn’t try to explain herself. 

Instead, she picked up the leftover watermelon Li Jingqiu had been eating and took a few bites. 

“The watermelon is sweet. It’s perfect for quenching my thirst.” 

She had talked so much tonight that her throat was dry.

Li Jingqiu continued to probe indirectly. 

“You two didn’t argue, did you?”

“No.” 

What could she possibly argue with Duan Ling about? 

As a merchant, Lin Ting knew how to read the situation. 

She had no power or influence, and offending an Imperial Guard would do her no good. 

Even high-ranking officials in the court didn’t dare provoke the Imperial Guards, fearing retaliation.

Moreover, Lin Ting felt somewhat guilty for forcefully kissing Duan Ling several times.

She hadn’t quite figured out how to make it up to him, and he hadn’t asked for anything specific. 

Even if he had, she wasn’t sure she could afford whatever he might want; it could be some priceless treasure.

As she thought about it, Lin Ting recalled what had happened at Nanshan Pavilion. 

Her lips, which had been iced, began to tingle again. 

Today, she had pried open Duan Ling’s lips and even tangled her tongue with his.

Lin Ting felt lucky to still be alive, thanks to the blessing of the God of Wealth.

Li Jingqiu, unaware of Lin Ting’s thoughts, continued, 

“You’ve known for a while that Lord Duan is an Imperial Guard. He’s busy with official duties, so you need to be understanding. Don’t throw a tantrum or argue with him just because you won’t see him for a while.”

Li Jingqiu went on and on about how women should keep men’s hearts.

Lin Ting focused on eating her watermelon, waiting for Li Jingqiu to finish before saying,

“Those methods are useless. If someone doesn’t like me, no matter what I do or how much I give, they still won’t like me. In fact, they might even start to dislike me.”

At these words, Li Jingqiu suddenly fell silent, as if thinking of someone or something.

After a while, she said, 

“You’re right. If someone doesn’t like me, no matter what I do or how much I give, they still won’t like me. In fact, they might even start to dislike me.”

The servants around them were silent, not daring to make a sound.

Li Jingqiu took out a handkerchief and wiped the watermelon juice from the corner of Lin Ting’s mouth. 

Recalling the past, she smiled self- deprecatingly. 

“In this regard, after living for decades, I’m not as clear-headed as you are.”

Lin Ting guessed that Li Jingqiu was projecting her own experiences onto her. 

“Mother, I wasn’t talking about you. I was talking about myself. Don’t misunderstand.”

At that moment, a maid rushed in. 

“Madam, the third master is calling for you!”

Li Jingqiu was surprised and snorted. 

“He’s looking for me? Instead of going to Madam Shen? Has the sun risen from the west?”

The maid’s face was pale. 

“The ninth young master has caused trouble outside and needs to pay a fine of three thousand taels. The third master is asking if you have three thousand taels to help save the ninth young master.”

Lin Ting knew this was her chance to leave the Lin family. 

She quickly threw away the watermelon rind.

Li Jingqiu was furious. 

“So that’s why that scoundrel suddenly came looking for me he’s after my dowry. Ridiculous! His son with Madam Shen caused trouble, and now he expects me to pay for it?”

The maid couldn’t help but speak up. 

“The third master is being too unfair. He’s been neglecting you for years, favoring Madam Shen, and now he wants you to sell your dowry to save the ninth young master.”

Li Jingqiu stormed out of the room.

Lin Ting hurried after her. 

“Mother, wait for me. I’ll go with you.”

“Go back. This is a matter between adults, and it’s none of your concern.” 

Li Jingqiu didn’t want to expose Lin Ting to such unpleasantness and tried to send her back.

But Lin Ting clung to Li Jingqiu’s arm and insisted, 

“No, I’m going with you. Please, let me come.”

Unable to dissuade her, Li Jingqiu relented. 

“Fine, but don’t say a word later.”

They left Tingling Courtyard, passed through the, and walked straight down the right corridor to Li Jingqiu’s courtyard. 

As soon as they entered, they saw a row of people kneeling on the ground. 

Madam Shen was at the front, with Lin Shu and Shan Ge behind her.

The servants in the courtyard exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of what to do.

Lin Ting’s father was trying to pull Madam Shen up, seemingly unwilling to let her kneel on the cold stone floor. 

“Don’t kneel. Get up, or you’ll hurt your legs.”