He had a good-looking lip shape, which made him seem approachable.
But looking approachable didn’t mean he was easy to approach.
She rubbed her aching temples.
Compared to handling the study business, getting close to Duan Ling was far more difficult.
When handling the study business, Lin Ting and Jin Anzai worked together.
She had helpers.
Usually, she just needed to use her identity as Lin family’s seventh young lady to contact other noble girls and gather information through their connections, which was difficult for Jin Anzai to do.
This made his operations in the capital smoother.
Occasionally, Lin Ting would accompany Jin Anzai on missions, helping to drug someone or something similar.
Jin Anzai was human too, not made of iron.
He would get tired and injured.
With her around, he had fewer times when he was caught off guard.
One handled things directly, and the other worked behind the scenes with drugs.
The former was him, the latter was her.
They were still quite in sync, their cooperation greatly improving the efficiency of completing transactions.
At first, when Lin Ting began working with Jin Anzai, she complained that it was too difficult and too dangerous, but she persisted for the money.
Looking back now, she realized those things weren’t even real difficulties.
Lin Ting swore to herself that she would never complain about the study business again because she had more difficult and dangerous matters in front of her.
Life was not easy, Lin Ting sighed.
She was standing next to Duan Ling, and he naturally heard her sigh: “Miss Lin Qi has something on her mind? Why the sigh?”
“Yes, indeed, there is something on my mind.”
Lin Ting glanced at Duan Ling’s slightly moving lips as he spoke and really wanted to knock him out, but with a clear understanding of her own physical abilities, she only dared to think about it in her mind.
Duan Ling didn’t ask further, only softly said, “It seems like quite a tricky matter.”
“It’s more than tricky; it’s life-threatening.”
Hearing this, he became interested and gently said, “It’s that serious? Miss Lin Qi, why not tell me? Perhaps I can help, as a way to repay you for informing me about the assassin.”
Lin Ting cleared her throat a few times: “This matter… Lord Duan probably wouldn’t want to help me.”
“Why is that?”
“It’s hard to explain. Lord Duan, better not ask any further. I’ll figure out a solution on my own.”
She could never tell Duan Ling that she had just spoken out of a whim, casually complaining without any real issue.
Seeing that Lin Ting wasn’t willing to speak, Duan Ling didn’t press her further, maintaining the proper distance.
He didn’t ask anything else: “Then I wish Miss Lin Qi a swift resolution to your concerns.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Lin Ting thought to herself, if he knew what she was planning, he surely wouldn’t say something like “wish you swift resolution” or “hope you can fulfill your wishes.”
Just then, Duan Xinning came over, holding a lotus lantern: “LIn Ting, Second Brother, what are you talking about? Lin Ting, where’s your lotus lantern?”
She smiled and glanced at the lake.
“You already put it in the lake?”
The lake was covered with countless floating lotus lanterns, overwhelming Duan Xinning’s eyes.
She pushed away her maid who was coming to assist her and personally knelt down on the gangway to release her lotus lantern.
Xia Zimo stood closely behind Duan Xinning, worried she might slip into the deep lake.
After she safely released her lantern, he stepped forward to place his own lotus lantern into the water.
Duan Xinning asked the same question as Lin Ting: “Second Brother, aren’t you going to release one?”
The boat lanterns swayed in the evening wind, casting fluctuating light onto Duan Ling’s face, splitting into fragmented shadows.
Duan Ling smiled faintly, looking as gentle as could be, raising his eyes to the lake’s surface.
The lotus lanterns mirrored the real lotus flowers, beautiful and lively, yet he remained unmoved: “You all can go ahead.”
Lin Ting stopped paying attention to them and grabbed a red apple from the plate that Tao Zhu was holding, taking a bite.
Duan Xinning, knowing her Second Brother’s temperament was kind but resolute, didn’t press him further about releasing a lotus lantern.
After spending the whole day on the boat admiring the lake and releasing their wishes, it was time to dock and explore the streets.
A quarter of an hour later, the boat docked, and Xia Zimo nimbly jumped ashore first.
Once he steadied himself, he turned around to assist Duan Xinning: “I’ll help you, be careful not to slip.”
Seeing that Duan Ling hadn’t said anything and Lin Ting wasn’t looking this way, Duan Xinning suppressed her shyness.
She reached out to grasp Xia Zimo’s strong arm and was assisted ashore.
Her maid, Zhi Lan, knew that Duan Xinning was fond of Xia Zimo, and Xia Zimo also had feelings for her.
Zhi Lan quietly stepped aside, neither too close nor too far, doing her duties as a maid.
Duan Ling wasn’t in a hurry to disembark.
He leisurely walked at the back.
With the boatman’s help, Tao Zhu disembarked and turned to assist Lin Ting, but before she could, Lin Ting had already jumped off and stood steadily on the ground.
Tao Zhu: “…..”
It seems that the Seventh Miss’s skills have gotten better and better.
Who has she learned from?
Tao Zhu didn’t know about Jin Anzai’s existence, so she was shocked by Lin Ting’s agility but didn’t think too much about it.
She just thought Lin Ting should be mindful of her public image but noticed that Lin Ting was staring at Duan Ling.
Lin Ting staring at Duan Ling?
Tao Zhu wouldn’t have been surprised if Lin Ting had been staring at anyone else, but seeing her gaze fixed on Duan Ling, she was quite surprised.
Wasn’t Seventh Miss the one who hated him the most?
A couple of years ago, she even spread rumors that he was incapable of fulfilling marital duties.
He hadn’t married early, but Lin Ting had spread the rumor that he was incapable of fulfilling marital duties, all to prevent others from matchmaking with him.
Luckily, she had used a fake identity when spreading the rumors, or Tao Zhu feared it would bring trouble to her.
Could it be that Seventh Miss was planning something big against Duan Ling?
Maybe she was pretending to ease the relationship before striking hard, which fit her previous personality.
Tao Zhu thought this possibility was quite high.
A few days ago, when Lin Ting agreed to go to the Beizhen Fusi with Duan Ling, Tao Zhu had felt something was off.
The most important thing was that after returning to the mansion, Lin Ting never mentioned it again.
No matter how Tao Zhu tried to pry, Lin Ting kept tight-lipped.
Sometimes, Lin Ting sat quietly, practicing calligraphy, writing Duan Ling’s name.
Lin Ting didn’t know Tao Zhu’s thoughts, as she was focused on calculating her remaining time.
The mission deadline was a month, and so far, five days had passed, leaving her with 25 days.
She had to kiss Duan Ling within those 25 days.
If she failed, her deadline would come in just 25 days, and it would be the end for her.
After some mental “brainstorming,” Lin Ting decided to take the initiative.
She was about to walk over to Duan Ling to create an opportunity, but before she could get close, Duan Xinning pulled her away.
“Lin Ting, look, the lotus cakes here look good. Would you like to try one?”
Even though Duan Xinning had Xia Zimo with her, she still thought of Lin Ting when she saw something delicious.
Lin Ting was in a bad mood, but she still ate two lotus cakes.
They were delicious.
Seeing that Lin Ting liked them, Duan Xinning bought another one for her.
However, Lin Ting had already eaten too much today, and she couldn’t finish this one halfway.
Since Duan Xinning bought it, it would be bad to throw it away.
Tao Zhu, observing, said at the right moment: “Seventh Miss, let me hold onto it. You can take a look around, and you can eat it later when you’re hungry.”
Lin Ting gave a soft “mm” in response, watching the puppet show ahead with great interest.
Without turning around, she handed the half-eaten lotus cake back, bumping into a hand, but the person didn’t catch it.
She directly placed it into the hand and turned around: “Why didn’t you take it? Isn’t it…”
Duan Ling, neatly dressed with outstanding bearing, his features illuminated by the dim red lanterns, seemed almost ethereal.
But in contrast, the lotus cake in his palm had clear marks from teeth.
Tao Zhu picked up the fragrance sachet that had fallen to the ground, wiped her hands with a handkerchief, and was about to take the lotus cake when she saw Lin Ting’s hand was empty.
Instead, it was Duan Ling holding the lotus cake.
His slender hand was holding the golden-yellow lotus cake shaped like a lotus flower.
Lin Ting reacted first, quickly taking back the half-eaten lotus cake and giving him a handkerchief: “Sorry, Lord Duan, this wasn’t meant for you. Please wipe your hands first.”
With the noise around them and the focus of Duan Xinning on the puppet show, no one noticed the exchange or the moment the lotus cake was handed.
Duan Ling wiped the crumbs from his hand with the handkerchief Lin Ting gave him: “It’s fine.”
Tao Zhu finally reacted and couldn’t help but admire Duan Ling’s good temper.
Since she had met him, she had never seen him lose his temper.
She didn’t understand why Lin Ting had to oppose him so much in the past.
Lin Ting was about to say something when Duan Xinning pulled her again: “There’s a street with music performances ahead. Let’s go have a look.”
Duan Xinning rarely went out at night and was curious to see what was happening.
Afterward, Xia Zimo was forced to step aside.
He felt a bit jealous, sensing that Duan Xinning was paying more attention to Lin Ting.
However, he thought about their bond of growing up together.
Xia Zimo glanced at Duan Ling, thought for a moment, then took a few steps back, moving in front of him.
He forced a smile, showing a mouthful of white teeth: “Lord Duan.”
Duan Ling: “Young Master Xia.”
“I heard those old, stubborn officials in the court are impeaching you for incompetence?”
Xia Zimo referred to the censors from the Censorate.
The emperor liked to eliminate threats quickly, and how could he tolerate the fifth young master of the Xie family escaping the city alive?
These censors had long been dissatisfied with the Jinyiwei.
Now that they had an opportunity, they certainly took the chance to heavily criticize them.
And Duan Ling just happened to be in charge of handling the matter of the Xie family’s fifth young master’s escape, so he couldn’t avoid the blame.
Duan Ling responded indifferently, even smiling slightly: “Indeed, allowing the fifth young master of the Xie family to escape was a failure of the Jinyiwei’s work.”
Xia Zimo spoke with hidden meaning: “The emperor still trusts your Jinyiwei a great deal. After all, you were the first to discover that the fifth young master of the Xie family was trying to escape the city disguised as a courtesan, almost getting shot with arrows.”
He exaggerated the situation on purpose.
With Duan Ling’s skill, he surely wouldn’t have been harmed, at most receiving a slight injury.
Xia Zimo continued, observing him: “If it weren’t for that, the emperor wouldn’t have suppressed the impeachment against the Jinyiwei, which made those old officials in the court openly angry.”
Duan Ling lowered his gaze: “Young Master Xia, I know you have some personal connection with the fifth young master of the Xie family and are inquiring if there’s any news about him from the Jinyiwei, but… you need to understand your position.
You are the heir of the Shian Marquis Manor. I advise you to stay out of it.”
His tone was soft, but there was weight behind his words: “Actually, I’ve heard something. There are people in the court secretly searching for remnants of the former dynasty with ill intentions. The emperor was furious when he found out.”
Xia Zimo seemed to be hearing this for the first time.
He stopped smiling and asked in surprise: “Such a thing? Have you discovered who it is?”
“Not yet.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Xinning sent someone to find them.
Zhi Lan lowered her head and said: “Second Young Master, Young Master Xia, Third Miss and Miss Lin Qi are waiting for you ahead.”
Duan Ling looked up, and he saw Lin Ting and Duan Xinning standing ahead on the bridge waiting for them.
Lin Ting was looking in their direction, her gaze passing through the bustling crowd and landing on him.
He didn’t say anything more, following Zhi Lan to find them, climbing the steps to the stone bridge.
The streets were crowded, packed with people and bustling with activity.
But Duan Ling stood out, moving slowly yet gracefully through the crowd.
As he reached the bridge, he slightly lifted his robe, every movement exuding a sense of nobility.
Lin Ting immediately locked her gaze onto Duan Ling.
Her eyes followed him as he moved.
She thought she was in a dim corner, and no one would notice, so she observed Duan Ling intently as he stepped onto the stone bridge—her gaze fixed on his lips as if staring at a piece of gold.
But Lin Ting underestimated Duan Ling’s sharpness.
He felt a gaze coming from the corner, and instinctively pressed his lips together.
A strange feeling rose in his heart.
Just as Duan Ling was about to step forward to confirm where the gaze was coming from, Lin Ting walked out of the corner, first glancing at Xia Zimo, then looking at him.
She appeared no different from usual.
Seeing that Lin Ting didn’t avert her gaze, Duan Ling turned his head and stopped looking.
Duan Xinning, feeling a bit tired, softly suggested: “Second Brother, how about we find a tavern to rest? There will be a firework show in half an hour, and I want to watch it before returning home. Lin Ting, what do you think?”
“Good.”
Duan Ling and Lin Ting answered in unison.
Xia Zimo couldn’t help but tease: “Miss Lin Qi and Lord Duan are quite in sync.”
Lin Ting thought to herself that she didn’t need such “sync”: “Let’s go to the tavern near the firework show.”
The iron flower display was beautiful, but a bit dangerous, requiring an open space.
The South Gate Street had a plot of land suitable for it, and the show was usually arranged there.
Both sides of South Gate Street were lined with taverns, so if they wanted to watch the firework show, they could just find any tavern on South Gate Street and wait there.
However, the best place to view the firework show was undoubtedly the Yellow Crane Tower.
But today, due to the Lotus Viewing Festival, the private rooms at Yellow Crane Tower were nearly all taken.
Xia Zimo, with his status as the heir of the Shian Marquis Manor, managed to get one.
The owner of Yellow Crane Tower had a relationship with Xia Zimo and specially arranged a room for him that was perfectly situated to view the iron flower display.
In the time that followed, Lin Ting didn’t find an opportunity to be alone with Duan Ling.
At the hour of Hai (around 9 p.m.), the iron flower display began.
With the cheers and excitement of the watching crowd, a young man, smiling, walked to the temporary flower booth set up on the street.
He wore a headscarf, had his upper body bare, with trousers tied at the ankles, and a gourd hat on his head.
Lin Ting sat by the window, looking down at the young man who was first bowing to the crowd.
Then he picked up the flower stick and began the performance of the “fire tree silver flowers,” known for its dazzling sparks.
He swung the flower stick, and molten iron splashed everywhere, falling onto the tree branches around the flower booth.
In an instant, the air was filled with countless sparks, which fell like glittering stars.
Lin Ting froze.
The scene of the iron flowers tonight reminded her of a line from a poem by Xin Qiji: “The east wind blows, and flowers bloom on a thousand trees, the stars falling like rain.”
It was so beautiful.
Each strike of iron flowers fell, and another rose, continuously, with the night sky flashing with fleeting golden rain.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.