As he suspected, Ling Tong didn’t - no, couldn’t - sustain eye contact. Nor could he sustain his balance, the door saving him from collapsing altogether. The once-charged atmosphere turned sullen, yet Xun could not allow recent events to unnerve him.
“I fear I cannot continue my work without inciting unwanted anger,” the strategist spoke in a soft tone, mindful in not aggravating his wound. “If you can find one who is skilled with cosmetics, I would be grateful. That is not my main concern, however.”
“Confrontation is inevitable, but you must clear this situation with our witnesses, namely our superiors. Masters Lu Su and Lϋ Meng understand the gravity of this ordeal, heavy enough to warrant punishment… I wish to avoid that. Please allow me to accompany you, for if they consider my perspective, they need not reprimand you.”
Ling Tong nods, slowly. Masters Lu Su and Lu Meng - they were pretty easygoing usually, but even they had their limits. Both had told him off for fighting with Gan Ning on several occasions, but this was the first time someone innocent had been hurt by it. They were not going to be happy, to say the least.
Was having himself executed really not an option? He squeezes his eyes shut, whining internally. He’d prefer that to facing their disappointment.
“Okay,” he gulps, looking up to Lu Xun for clarification. “Makeup first?”
He’d always been on good terms with both the Qiaos and Lady Lianshi, it was a matter of who would help them.
Daqiao. She was kind, she usually didn’t judge too harshly, she didn’t gossip, she could be found in her rooms ninety-nine percent of the time. Unless he bumped into someone else first, he’d find Daqiao.
