Chapter 51: Avoiding Blades Like the Wind, Rising Rapidly

At 7-9 am, the gates of Lanyang Prefecture were locked.

In broad daylight, the streets were empty, save for the occasional patrolling yamen runner, resembling a ghost town.

Everyone could feel the atmosphere of an impending storm.

Not long after Ding Suian returned to the manor, he was invited by Lin Hansu to the third courtyard, Chengxi Hall.

Upon meeting, Lin Hansu looked Ding Suian up and down several times. “Where did you go last night?”

“Head Constable Jiao invited me for drinks, and I stayed out after getting drunk.”

“Did you hear that Tiandao Palace was struck by heavenly lightning this morning?”

As she spoke, Lin Hansu’s phoenix eyes were fixed tightly on his face, trying to glean something from Ding Suian’s expression.

“I heard a bit. I said it just a few days ago—those who commit many injustices are bound to doom themselves. Look.”

“Young Master! This is not a joking matter. Tell me the truth, did last night’s events have anything to do with you…”

Before Lin Hansu could finish, she heard a flurry of footsteps and the excited shouting of Chest Hair and the others outside.

A moment later, Wansu entered. “My Lady, Squad Leader Ding, the front received an imperial order. Squad Leader Ding is summoned to report to the Dianqian Division before noon on the 21st of the first lunar month to join the southern expedition!”

“Boss! I heard from others that many young nobles are scrambling to join this southern expedition. I didn’t expect you to receive an order too! I, Old Zhu, am clumsy and don’t know how to say fancy words, so I wish you… kai-kai. Boss, what comes after ‘kai’?”

“Triumphant return!”

“Right, right, right! Wishing the Boss a triumphant return!”

At 5-7 pm, just as the sky was darkening, the banquet in Diying Garden had already been going on for a long time.

From the imperial court to the common people, everyone was extremely optimistic about this southern expedition.

Descendants of military nobility and young talents were doing everything they could to participate.

Opportunities to farm military merit while ensuring safety were rare.

Therefore, tonight’s farewell banquet for the An Squad was not tragic, but full of joy.

By the end of 7-9 pm, everyone was eighty percent drunk. Ding Suian and Wang Xigui exchanged a glance, then both left the table under the pretext of needing to relieve themselves.

“While I am away, you are responsible for the manor’s security.”

Ding Suian’s situation was a ‘temporary transfer’; he would return to his original post after the expedition.

After Wang Xigui was brought into the West Yamen’s Shadow Division by Ding Suian, he felt psychologically closer to him. To him, this matter was entirely beneficial.

For one, the identity of a Shadow Division secret agent was a life-saving amulet at critical moments. For another, the extra two taels and eight fen of silver each month was a tangible benefit.

“This subordinate will do his utmost!”

At 9-11 pm, everyone was full of food and drink.

Ding Suian went from the front courtyard to the back. Upstairs in the neighboring Ji Pavilion, the candlelight cast a silhouette against the window, permeated with the sorrowful imagery of someone keeping an empty boudoir.

This hint was obvious enough.

Inside the room, Lin Hansu sat alone before the mirror in her form-fitting undergarments, her dark hair like a waterfall, her graceful figure, usually hidden under wide robes, now fully exposed.

Swan-like neck, butterfly waist, rosy cheeks, and slender hands.

Ding Suian familiarly climbed into the room, closed the window, and said, “I have made arrangements. Wang Xigui is steady and cautious; if you encounter any trouble, Sister, you can go directly to him.”

He was still a bit worried that Lin Hansu would press him about Tiandao Palace again, but unexpectedly, Lin Hansu said nothing, just gave Ding Suian a gentle smile and handed him a comb. “Young Master, help me comb my hair.”

“Okay.”

Ding Suian took two steps forward and stood behind Lin Hansu. He was not skilled at combing a woman’s hair.

But fortunately, Lin Hansu’s hair was as smooth as silk, and the comb moved without resistance.

In these times, a man combing a woman’s hair almost only happened between husband and wife. Given their current relationship, it felt very much like a’secret pledge of lifelong commitment’.

“Sigh!” Ding Suian suddenly sighed.

“Why are you sighing for no reason?”

“Joining the southern expedition, blades and spears have no eyes. The army has always had the theory of ‘breaking the baleful influence.’ My ‘baleful influence’ hasn’t been broken yet; I’m afraid this trip will be ominous!”

“Pah! Don’t talk nonsense! What ominous? Young Master will definitely be safe and sound.”

Lin Hansu spat lightly, then turned her head to look up at Ding Suian, her phoenix eyes glancing sideways with a bit of displeasure. “What ‘baleful influence’ do you still need to break? Haven’t you already ‘combed’ for that little hussy Night Contain?”

‘Breaking the baleful influence’ had a long history.

To put it crudely, it meant losing one’s virginity before going to the battlefield; this was ‘breaking the baleful influence’.

There was some basis for this saying; the battlefield was dangerous, and no one knew if they would return.

The underlying meaning of losing one’s virginity was to leave offspring and continue the Bloodline.

“Night Contain is a contact for the Shadow Division; it was all an act. Right, after I leave, if you encounter anything Wang Xigui cannot solve, Sister, go to Night Contain, and she will report it to her superiors.”

Upon hearing this, a faint smile flashed across Lin Hansu’s eyes. Then, after thinking seriously for a moment, she suddenly stood up and walked to the boudoir bed, crouching down.

Because of the crouching motion, her form-fitting undergarments revealed a stunning waist-to-hip ratio and curvaceous hip lines.

In terms of looks and figure, Sister Princess was the ceiling among all the women he had ever seen.

But then again, even the best ceiling needs a false ceiling, right?

While he was letting his thoughts run wild, Lin Hansu retrieved something and walked gracefully back to Ding Suian.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and she actually seemed a little shy.

“What’s wrong, Sister?”

Ding Suian couldn’t help but be curious. This sister was no ordinary young woman; she killed without blinking, and it was rare to see her shy.

Lin Hansu took a deep breath, the rhythm of her chest rising and falling slightly faster, showing she was a little nervous.

She brought her hands from behind her back to the front. In her right hand, she held a stack of small paintings about a span long. With her left hand, she pointed to one and said, “Does this count as helping you break the baleful influence?”

Ding Suian leaned in to look, then immediately shook his head. “It doesn’t!”

After saying that, he half-struggled and half-snatched the dowry paintings from Lin Hansu’s hand, flipped to a page, and said seriously, “Sister, this is what counts!”

This time, it was Lin Hansu’s turn to lean in. She took one look and quickly lowered her eyes.

Although she maintained a dignified and solemn expression, the blush on her cheeks quickly dyed her entire face red, then spread to her swan-like neck, and finally her ear tips turned bright red. When she spoke, however, she was deliberately cold. “No!”

Ding Suian flipped to another page. “Then how about this?”

“No!”

“This?”

“No, no! Anyway, it’s just what I showed you before. If you want it, take it; if not, forget it!”

“I want it, I want it, I want it.”

A moment later, Lin Hansu walked to the candle, pursed her cherry lips slightly, and blew it out.

The second floor of Ji Pavilion fell into darkness.

Actually, Ding Suian quite liked it bright.

At midnight, the rain stopped and the sky cleared, with the moon hanging in the center of the sky.

Silver light was sprinkled all over the world.

On the second floor of Ji Pavilion, a candle was relit.

Lin Hansu stood before the washstand, carefully washing her slender, white hands, occasionally turning back to cast a charming glance at Ding Suian.

Shortly after, her hands were clean, and Lin Hansu pressed the back of her hands against her cheeks to cool down her burning face.

“Move inside~”

Lin Hansu walked back to the bed and lay down next to Ding Suian.

Ding Suian, in the’sage time’ after, reached out his arm to wrap around her shoulder, but was pushed away by Lin Hansu, who instead actively opened her own arms and pulled Ding Suian into her embrace.

Did she even have to fight for the lead in hugging?

Because of the position, Ding Suian’s head sank into a soft ocean.

The night was deep and quiet, the boudoir warm and comfortable.

The two, tightly embracing, did not speak for a long time.

Ding Suian’s breathing was a bit obstructed; he tilted his head back to expose his mouth and nose to take a few deep breaths before saying, “Tiandao Palace was struck by heavenly lightning last night; surely Lanyang will not be peaceful in the coming days. After I leave, if you encounter any trouble, Sister, endure it first, and wait until I return to deal with it.”

“Hmm~”

Lin Hansu responded softly, then seemed to be moved by a sudden thought. “You’ve already finished the biggest difficulty; where could there be any more trouble?”

“Huh? What do you mean, Sister? I don’t understand.”

“Hee hee~”

In the darkness, Lin Hansu giggled, then, as if coaxing a child, one hand wrapped around Ding Suian’s back, gently stroking and patting, murmuring, “I know, Young Master is a real man with many big things hidden in his heart. If you don’t want to say, Sister won’t ask. In the future, if you achieve success and fame, I will accompany you in glory; if you cause a great disaster, I will accompany you to the Yellow Springs, okay?”

“Not okay! I’m still a virgin; I can’t die yet!”

“Pah~”

The next day, mao hour.

The morning stars were sparse, and the bright moon was setting in the west.

A streak of red clouds appeared on the eastern horizon; the vigorous morning sun was about to rise.

When Ding Suian got up to dress, Lin Hansu specially straightened his cap and tied his belt with her own hands. A husband going out to do business, a wife tidying his clothes—it was just like the daily life of an ordinary young couple.

“The army is not like the manor; don’t force yourself. I have already arranged everything for you.”

Lin Hansu and Ding Suian stood facing each other, and she finally straightened his collar.

“Don’t worry.”

I’m not a child anymore.

Lin Hansu cupped Ding Suian’s cheeks with both hands, wanting to say something at the last moment, but in the end, she didn’t, simply tiptoeing to offer a kiss.

Then she stepped back a few paces, solemnly tidied her clothes, crossed her hands at her side, bent her knees slightly, and performed an extremely standard Wanfu salute. “First, I wish my Young Master Suian to avoid blades like the wind and return home safely; second, I wish my Young Master Suian to achieve merit on the battlefield and rise rapidly!”