[According to statistics, the host currently has a cumulative score of ten points, and is still fifteen points away from the goal of “unlocking the grand prize.”]
Lin Ting remembered the plot of seducing Duan Ling very clearly.
At that time, “Lin Ting” was determined to become the sister-in-law of Duan Xinning and Xia Zimo, and even resorted to seducing her former nemesis.
However, the result was obvious Duan Ling remained unmoved, watching her as if she were a ridiculous clown performing on stage, occasionally delivering a blow.
But Lin Ting really wanted to ask the system one question.
What exactly was the standard for seduction?
[As long as the host does something that Duan Ling considers to be “seduction,” it counts. Whether the seduction is successful or not does not affect the completion of the task.]
In the original story, the seduction failed, so success is not the criterion.
Doing something that Duan Ling considers to be “seduction” how is this any different from a high school essay prompt?
It’s all about figuring out the right angle to hit the mark.
Lin Ting definitely wouldn’t take the same approach as “Lin Ting” she had stripped naked in front of Duan Ling.
Stripping in front of Duan Ling to seduce him was too far beyond her comfort zone.
Even though she knew that as long as she did it, the task would be successful, Lin Ting couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She had to think of another way.
Jin Anzai kicked Lin Ting, who seemed to be in a daze:
“Lin Leyun? Have you gone dumb from choking on the wine? Why are you just sitting there?”
Lin Ting wiped the wine from the corner of her mouth and said to Duan Ling,
“I’m sorry, I was rude.”
Duan Ling slowly sipped his wine and replied with good temper,
“It’s fine. I’ve seen you do much ruder things, so I’m used to it.”
Lin Ting had no retort.
Duan Ling was right, she had indeed done things ruder than “coughing during a meal,” like forcefully kissing him, and not just once.
That he could tolerate it without killing her was truly “benevolent.”
She firmly believed that as long as she wasn’t embarrassed, the embarrassment would fall on others, so she acted calmly.
Jin Anzai’s mouth twitched as she completely reevaluated Lin Ting.
But then she suddenly thought of something Lin Ting’s actions toward Duan Ling were so bold and reckless, so what exactly was he thinking?
The Imperial Guards were known for their cold-blooded ruthlessness, killing without hesitation.
Duan Ling was also an Imperial Guard, and a high- ranking one at that.
He certainly wasn’t a kind-hearted person.
Even though he carried himself with a gentle and refined demeanor, it couldn’t hide the fact that he was ruthless at heart.
So, the reason Lin Ting was still alive after taking liberties with Duan Ling was either because he had thought of a punishment worse than death to torment her, or because… he had unknowingly developed feelings for her.
Jin Anzai thought the latter was unlikely.
Most importantly, an Imperial Guard couldn’t afford to have feelings.
Having feelings would create a fatal weakness.
Someone like Duan Ling, who was destined to rise to the highest position in the Imperial Guards, would he really allow himself to develop feelings?
Jin Anzai couldn’t understand why Lin Leyun was so infatuated with Duan Ling.
She clearly knew his true nature, that he was heartless and vengeful, yet she still approached him.
Truly, love was a drug that could make people lose their minds.
Was it just Duan Ling’s face that had captivated her?
Jin Anzai couldn’t help but study Duan Ling’s face for a moment.
Well, she couldn’t blame Lin Leyun for being mesmerized by his good looks.
Duan Ling was indeed handsome, and every gesture he made was graceful.
Lin Ting had no idea that in Jin Anzai’s mind, she had become a complete lecher, her head filled with thoughts of ’ how to seduce Duan Ling,’ ‘the correct method to seduce Duan Ling,’ and ‘how to escape unscathed after seducing Duan Ling.’
For the rest of the meal, Lin Ting found it hard to enjoy the food and only ate half a bowl.
Duan Ling noticed and asked with a faint smile,
“Is the food not to your liking today? It seems you haven’t eaten much.”
Lin Ting put down her jade chopsticks and stopped poking at the rice in her bowl.
“It’s not that. I ate a lot of pastries before coming here, so I’m not hungry.”
After hearing this, Duan Ling didn’t press further and continued chatting with Jin Anzai intermittently.
Lin Ting, on the other hand, had no interest in joining the conversation.
By the beginning of the evening, the meeting finally came to an end.
Duan Ling had someone escort her back to her residence in a carriage, but he didn’t personally see her off.
Jin Anzai left on her own, taking a detour back to her study.
Upon returning to the Lin residence, Lin Ting was so restless that she couldn’t sit still, jumping around like a monkey.
The moment she thought of the word “seduction,” her mind was flooded with inappropriate scenarios, some even more exaggerated than stripping to seduce him.
It was all because she had read too many restricted novels in the past, and now these associations came to her involuntarily.
Lin Ting forcefully interrupted these thoughts, warning herself not to go down that path.
She needed to think of a more decent method of seduction, but was there really such a thing as a “decent” method of seduction?
Seduction was inherently indecent, and she was trying to: add a “decent” way to do it?
It was nothing short of wishful thinking.
It would be better if Duan Ling were the one seducing her instead.
When it was time to rest, Tao Zhu came in to prepare Lin Ting’s bedding:
“Seventh Miss, were you meeting Lord Duan tonight?”
“Yes,” Lin Ting admitted.
She trusted Tao Zhu, knowing that even if Tao Zhu knew she had gone to meet Duan Ling, she wouldn’t tell her mother, Li Jingqiu.
In fact, Tao Zhu might even help cover for her if necessary.
Tao Zhu summarized silently in her heart: To make a man fall in love, you need to meet him occasionally, strike while the iron is hot, and deepen his feelings for you.
Just like Seventh Miss, who keeps Lord Duan at arm’s length, teasing him.
Lin Ting threw herself into the bedding Tao Zhu had prepared.
She would sleep first and then figure out a solution.
With a rested mind, she would be more clear-headed.
In no time, Lin Ting was fast asleep.
Tao Zhu didn’t leave immediately but instead took out some incense that could both repel mosquitoes and soothe the mind, placing it in the incense burner.
After lighting the incense, Tao Zhu returned to the bedside and gently lowered the bed curtains.
Suddenly, she heard Lin Ting murmuring in her sleep:
“Duan Ling, Duan Ling, Duan Ling…”
Tao Zhu watched her for a while.
Just how much does Seventh Miss hate Lord Duan that she even torments him in her dreams?
A thin mist enveloped the area, and the sky was still dark.
The sound of cicadas drifted through the slightly open window, one after another, drumming against Lin Ting’s eardrums.
She covered her ears with her hands, tossing and turning in bed, wanting to call the servants to cut down the trees in the courtyard and drive away the cicadas that were making such a racket, preventing her from waking up naturally.
After half an hour, Lin Ting sat up and glanced out the window, but she didn’t actually call anyone to cut down the trees.
Tao Zhu, seeing that Lin Ting was awake, lifted the bed curtains:
“Why are you up so early today? It’s still dark outside. Shouldn’t you sleep a little longer?”
“I can’t sleep. I’ll get up.”
“Alright.” Tao Zhu first called for someone to bring the washing utensils into the inner room.
“Seventh Miss, the account books for the fabric store haven’t been fully reviewed yet. Will you be going to the store today to continue reviewing them, or will you be meeting with Third Miss Duan?”
After Lin Ting finished washing her face, Tao Zhu dismissed the other maids and bent down to apply makeup for her.
Lin Ting yawned several times in a row.
Woken up by the cicadas, she hadn’t slept enough and was still a bit tired:
“I’ll go to the fabric store to review the account books.”
Duan Xinning had mentioned that she would be meeting with Xia Zimo today and wouldn’t be at the Duan residence.
Since Lin Ting hadn’t yet figured out how to seduce Duan Ling, going to see him would be futile.
Going to the fabric store to review the account books was a good choice; it would keep her from staying at home and overthinking.
Tao Zhu used a copper eyebrow pencil to draw Lin Ting’s brows:
“Alright, then we’ll go to the fabric store.”
Halfway through applying the makeup, Tao Zhu added,
“I forgot to tell you earlier. Yesterday, Madam Feng sent an invitation, saying she was very grateful for the silk you sent and would like to invite you to a flower-viewing banquet.”
A flower-viewing banquet?
Lin Ting thought for a few seconds:
“No, I won’t go. Just send a reply saying I have something to do that day and can’t attend. Please ask Madam Feng for her understanding.”
Madam Feng had been trying to matchmake her with Duan Ling, so it was better for them to meet as little as possible.
Lin Ting hadn’t sent the silk to Madam Feng with the intention of becoming closer; it was simply because Madam Feng had once given her a jade bracelet.
It was a matter of reciprocation, nothing more.
Although the silk she had sent was far less valuable than the jade bracelet Madam Feng had given her, it was still a token of her gratitude.
If it wasn’t enough, she could make up for it later.
Tao Zhu didn’t question Lin Ting’s decision at all.
Her Seventh Miss always had her own plans:
“Seventh Miss, should I still send someone to inquire about Lord Duan’s whereabouts these next few days?”
Lin Ting propped her chin on one hand, half-closing her eyes as she yawned again:
“As usual.”
Tao Zhu inserted a pale pink, half-bloomed peony into Lin Ting’s hair:
“Seventh Miss, you really shouldn’t wake up so early in the future.”
It wasn’t like she wanted to wake up early, it was just that the cicadas were too loud.
Lin Ting didn’t explain this to Tao Zhu and simply responded with an “Mmm”:
“I know.”
The sound of cicadas outside the window continued.
Lin Ting wasn’t the only one up early; the civil and military officials of the Great Yan Dynasty were also awake.
It was a rule in Great Yan that all officials of the sixth rank or higher in the capital had to attend court.
***
At this moment, three drumbeats sounded from the drum tower, signaling the officials to enter the court.
They filed in orderly through the palace gates, with officials of the first to fourth ranks wearing bright red robes, and those of the fifth rank and below wearing cyan robes.
From a distance, the mingling of red and cyan dyed the horizon.
Duan Ling was among them.
At just twenty-two years old, he stood out among the mostly older officials, with a tall and upright figure and a strikingly handsome face.
Once the officials reached the square in front of the Hall of Heavenly Favor, Duan Ling took his place among them, waiting for the emperor to enter the hall.
Soon, Emperor Jiade entered the hall.
Upon seeing the emperor seated on the dragon throne, the officials all performed the ritual of three kneelings and nine prostrations.
The eunuch standing beside Emperor Jiade waited for them to rise before announcing,
“Those with matters to report, step forward. Those without, you may leave.”
The elderly Left Prime Minister, holding a ceremonial tablet, stepped forward:
“Your Majesty, I have a matter to report.”
“Please speak, dear minister.”
The Left Prime Minister spoke with righteous indignation:
“The Prince of Liang has been secretly mining iron in Xinzhou.”
At this, the officials exchanged glances, unsure whether they were more surprised by the Prince of Liang’s actions or by the Left Prime Minister’s boldness in accusing him.
Only Duan Ling remained unfazed.
Emperor Jiade, his emotions unreadable, asked calmly,
“Do you have evidence?”
The Left Prime Minister, knowing that Emperor Jiade favored the Prince of Liang, bowed his head:
“The evidence I collected was intercepted by the Prince of Liang. Secretly mining iron is a grave matter, and I implore Your Majesty to investigate and punish him severely.”
However, Emperor Jiade said nothing further and dismissed the court, instructing the commander of the Imperial Guards and Duan Ling to stay behind, as he had some questions for them.
By the time Duan Ling left the palace, it was already noon.
Not long after noon, Lin Ting finished reviewing the account books and leaned on the counter, drawing circles with a brush.
The fabric store’s business was getting worse by the day, and today’s customers were pitifully few.
The shop assistant was so idle that he was swatting flies, while the shopkeeper directed him:
“There’s one over there, to the left, not the right. You blockhead.”
Tao Zhu watched them swat flies with boredom.
The store’s floor had been mopped, and the dust swept away.
At the moment, they really had nothing to do.
Lin Ting decided to give them half a day off.
Since there was no business, sitting around was pointless.
As soon as the shopkeeper and assistant left, Tao Zhu sent a beggar to inquire about Duan Ling’s whereabouts.
Although beggars were lowly in status in the capital, they had access to more information than most, as they were everywhere, practically covering the entire city.
After obtaining Duan Ling’s whereabouts, Tao Zhu gave the beggar ten coins and sent him away.
She then went to find Lin Ting, who was in the backyard of the fabric store counting the remaining bolts of cloth:
“Seventh Miss, Lord Duan is leaving the capital again on official business.”
“He’s leaving the capital again?”
Lin Ting instantly forgot where she was in her counting.
Of course, Duan Ling was an Imperial Guard commander, so leaving the capital on official business was routine.
No wonder he didn’t have a wife in the original story whether in ancient times or modern times, few people could handle a long-distance relationship.
Lin Ting stopped counting the remaining bolts of cloth and rushed out of the backyard, returning to the front of the store:
“When is he leaving? When will he be back?”