Baozhu had just served tea and withdrawn when Du Qing’s face turned cold: “What did you say to Master?”

Lin Hao immediately reacted: “What happened to Master?”

“Master—” Du Qing paused, his tone growing even colder, “Second Miss Lin, I’m the one asking you.”

Lin Hao’s heart jumped.

Du Qing’s “Second Miss Lin” carried a tone of gritted teeth, suggesting Master’s situation was no small matter.

“My conversation with Master—Master told me not to spread it to others.” Lin Hao believed in Du Qing’s loyalty to Master Mingxin, but some words that could be said to her teacher couldn’t be said to outsiders.

Could she really tell him she’d had a dream where Master Mingxin was her teacher? Du Qing would probably think she was ill.

Du Qing’s pair of spirited eyebrows knitted together so tightly they could crush a mosquito. He scrutinized Lin Hao’s expression, trying to guess how much truth there was in these words, finally giving up helplessly.

Forget it. This girl was true and false, real and unreal—an honest person like him shouldn’t invite humiliation upon himself.

“Are you adapting well at the Jinlin Guard?” Lin Hao changed the subject, easing the somewhat stiff atmosphere.

Du Qing’s expression turned strange. After a good while, he spat out two words: “Tolerable enough.”

It was just that he’d experienced several more assassination attempts from his own people, that’s all.

“Then you came to find me today—does Master have something?”

Du Qing’s expression changed several times before he said coldly: “Master revealed his identity to His Majesty and secretly left the capital.”

Lin Hao’s complexion also changed.

That meeting—she had thought they’d failed to reach an understanding, but it turned out her teacher had made this plan.

“Is Master in danger?”

Du Qing’s face grew even worse: “By revealing his identity, Master has essentially placed himself on the chopping block. Whether there’s danger or not is now for others to decide. I just don’t understand what you said to Master that made him make such a decision.”

“I—” Lin Hao opened her mouth, but felt as if a stone was blocking her throat. Her eyes couldn’t help but redden.

If something happened to her teacher, she would bear an inescapable responsibility. Even if she had considered the vast majority of people, she alone had wronged her teacher.

Du Qing’s expression stiffened.

Was she… about to cry?

As a fine young man whose spy career was becoming increasingly difficult, Du Qing immediately felt his head grow large.

Lin Hao turned her face away to suppress her tears. Only when her expression had returned to normal did she look at Du Qing: “When did Master leave?”

“Three days ago.”

Lin Hao calculated the time—it was the day after her meeting with Master Mingxin. Her mood grew increasingly complex.

“I’m leaving.” Du Qing glanced at the listless young lady, unable to say whether he felt angry or helpless. Thinking out of sight, out of mind, he left very quickly.

Lin Hao remained sitting alone, holding her teacup and drinking mouthful after mouthful until the tea was completely gone before silently rising.

Afterward, Lin Hao paid particular attention to news coming back from the south. Seven or eight days passed like this. Whether Master Mingxin’s journey was going smoothly remained unknown, but finally she received a letter from the north.

“Miss, it’s a letter from the Heir!” Baozhu rushed in like a gust of wind, holding up the letter. Her cheeks were flushed pink from running, full of joy.

As the young lady’s personal maid, she naturally knew what the young lady had been hoping for.

Lin Hao hurriedly took the letter. Looking at the familiar handwriting on the envelope, for a moment she actually didn’t dare open it.

“Miss?” Seeing her remain motionless for a long time, Baozhu was somewhat puzzled.

Lin Hao took a deep breath and instructed Baozhu: “Go fetch a basin of water. I’ll wash my hands.”

Good news—it must be good news.

Watching the young lady’s devout expression as she washed her hands, Baozhu thoughtfully suggested: “Miss, should we also burn some incense?”

“Such a tease.” Lin Hao pinched Baozhu’s cheek. The tension in her heart dissipated considerably. She dried her hands and drew out the letter.

The letter was quite thick, consisting of more than ten sheets. From departure to arrival in the northern territories, much of it was about small matters—for instance, how the icicles under the eaves there could be over a foot long, like rows of sharp swords glinting with cold light, and how soldiers who had never been to the northern territories were quite worried they would fall down. Regarding military affairs, there were only a few sparse words with no elaboration.

Lin Hao read through it word by word three times before unfolding the painting that had been sent with the letter.

Qi Shuo had mentioned in the letter that she should find Master Hu and have him make a mask according to the portrait, to be sent to the northern territories as quickly as possible.

The young man in the portrait had thick eyebrows and deep-set eyes—he could be called handsome.

The letter didn’t explain this person’s identity, but Lin Hao could guess that this was a man from Qi.

What did A’Shuo want to do?

Lin Hao couldn’t help but frown.

Could he be planning to put himself at risk, impersonating some man from Qi to infiltrate the enemy camp?

This young man didn’t look like an ordinary soldier, but if he was impersonating someone with status, it would be too dangerous.

Lin Hao lowered her eyes, her expression constantly changing.

“Miss, who is this?” Seeing Lin Hao continuously staring at the portrait, Baozhu asked curiously.

“This is—” Lin Hao stood up. “Baozhu, bring my outdoor clothes.”

Baozhu quickly brought a set of clothes and helped Lin Hao dress, then fastened on an apricot-colored cloak.

Lin Hao took the portrait and left, heading straight for the Jinlin Guard.

Master Hu had been captured, the former Crown Prince had been captured, and even those remnants of the former emperor who stirred up trouble from time to time had been quiet lately. Though there was war in distant places, it actually had little to do with the Jinlin Guard. Cheng Maoming had rarely been idle these past few days.

“Second Miss Lin has come?” Hearing his subordinate’s report, Cheng Maoming’s expression couldn’t help but become serious.

For a young lady to come looking for him, it surely wasn’t for casual conversation.

He didn’t delay and quickly went to a nearby teahouse.

“I hope I’m not interrupting the Grand Commander’s busy schedule?”

“There aren’t many matters today. I was just thinking of coming to have some tea to moisten my throat. What business does Second Miss Lin have with me?”

“Grand Commander, Master Hu is still alive, isn’t he?”

Cheng Maoming was momentarily stunned.

Master Hu had been captured precisely because of Prince Jing’s Heir and Second Miss Lin. Matters concerning him could be concealed from others, but there was no need to hide them from these two. But why was Second Miss Lin suddenly asking about Master Hu?

Though puzzled, Cheng Maoming nodded: “He’s still alive.”

A talented person like Master Hu with specialized skills who couldn’t endure hardship—they couldn’t bear to kill him.

“Then I need him to help with something.” Lin Hao passed the portrait over.

Cheng Maoming took it and opened it to look, asking hesitantly: “Does Second Miss Lin want Master Hu to make a mask of this person?”

“Yes.” Lin Hao nodded.

“May I ask Second Miss Lin’s reason for wanting this person’s mask?”

It was fine to tell Second Miss Lin certain information, but having Master Hu create a mask required clear understanding, or else if something went wrong, he would bear responsibility.

Lin Hao shook her head: “I don’t know the reason either. The Heir asked me to handle this in his letter.”

Cheng Maoming’s expression changed slightly: “The Heir? Could it be related to military affairs?”

“He didn’t mention it.” Worried Cheng Maoming wouldn’t believe her, Lin Hao took out the letter and extracted the last page to show him.

Cheng Maoming quickly scanned it once then moved his gaze away, saying with a smile: “The Heir must have important business. Second Miss Lin, leave the portrait with me. I’ll go find Master Hu.”

“Thank you, Grand Commander.”

“Second Miss Lin is too polite. The Heir’s matters are my matters.” Cheng Maoming spoke boldly, unable to resist glancing at the letter.

Tsk, quite thick.

Lin Hao, misunderstanding that he wanted to know the letter’s contents, hastily explained: “The rest is all idle talk.”

Cheng Maoming: “…” So the actual business was just those two sentences on the last page?