A Way Out

Suppressing her little flare of temper, Ding Ling led Duàn Yì into the room. As she poured him tea, she narrowed her eyes and teased,

"Heir Apparent, your status is different now. You're a precious man indeed—what brings you to a shabby place like mine?

Could it be that you've had your fill of glory and wealth, and now you've come to share prosperity and honor with this old friend?"

Although Ding Ling had rarely gone out lately, she had not fallen behind in gathering information. Duàn Yì becoming Xia Yi and leading the mansion's experts to wipe out two White Lotus Sect strongholds was certainly no secret from her.

Hearing this, Duàn Yì knew that Ding Ling resented him for never contacting her, and for keeping such a major matter from her. Knowing himself to be in the wrong, he could only keep silent. Only after Ding Ling placed the fragrant tea, steaming white, before him did he say,

"Don't make fun of me. My current situation is several degrees more dangerous than when Zhuang Shili was hunting me down. I came precisely because I need your help."

With that, Duàn Yì recounted this entire string of bizarre experiences to Ding Ling. In particular, he laid out clearly his entanglement in the struggle between the Zhenbei King's Mansion and the Crown Prince, as well as the hostility of Prince Duan's branch toward him.

These matters were not exactly great secrets. Though he guarded against Ding Ling using him, he also trusted this woman, because the two of them had interacted the most and most frequently.

Ding Ling listened intently, her eyes never leaving him. Only when Duàn Yì grew thirsty, paused, and took a drink of tea did she nod and say,

"So you really are of Imperial Family