She sat there in a daze, the faint clarity she'd gathered slipping back into a blur.
"Miss, did you forgive this servant?" The girl lifted her head quickly, her face lighting up with hope. But seeing Li Yun's unfocused gaze, her delight froze, and she bowed her head, murmuring with fear, "If Miss hasn't pardoned me, this servant doesn't dare to rise."
Li Yun's hand reflexively clenched, her gaze drifting back to the kneeling girl.
The girl's attire, though fine, was clearly a grade lower than the silks on her own body. The accessories she wore were likewise a far cry from those adorning Li Yun. She studied her in silence, her expression sharpening.
The girl, realizing that forgiveness had yet to be granted, dared not speak again. Blood still dripped from her forehead, but she knelt motionless, as though feeling no pain.
"Repeat what you just said," Li Yun asked evenly. This time, her voice carried a steadier, deeper undertone, along with an invisible force directed straight at the girl.
Having survived countless battles and intrigue, she had long trained herself to stay composed, no matter the place, the time, or the shock. Even if her reality had flipped completely on its head, she would anchor herself in the moment, prepared to handle any twist of fate.
The girl's body shook at her command, her voice trembling with remorse and dread. "Miss, this servant was wrong... I shall never speak ill of His Highness the Crown Prince again. I'll accept punishment and go scrub in the scullery. Miss, please forgive me just this once. My grandmother relies on me to take care of her."
"I asked you to repeat every word you said." Li Yun's voice dropped a notch, pressing harder.
"Mi—Miss..." the girl faltered, instinctively shrinking away. But at Li Yun's look, she stilled herself and began again, repeating everything she had muttered when Li Yun first awoke. The telling took minutes to finish. When she was done, she dropped back down, her back damp with the cold sweat of terror. Only now did she grasp how perilous her mistake had been. To slander His Highness the Crown Prince—it was nothing short of treason. If His Highness had heard her, no amount of pleading would save her neck.
"Hmm." Li Yun listened, her expression unreadable. But her thoughts swirled, disbelief mounting. Such a delicate figure, pale hands, layers of fine robes—who was this if not herself? The scenic landscape around her, so richly colored before, now seemed distorted and surreal. Was she... dreaming?
To test the theory, she clenched her hand, pressing her fingers into her palm. Pain shot through, sharp and unmistakable. She pinched again, then quietly twisted at her waist. Even through the soft fabric, the stab of pain was severe.
Her face paled, though she stilled her trembling hands in her sleeves. It was real. She was not dreaming.
The girl dared not speak, and silence fell once more. Beyond the faint rustle of wind, there was no sound.
"Now," Li Yun asked after a long pause, her tone calculated, words measured. "Tell me, did His Highness truly watch me suffer without intervening?"
"Miss?" The girl looked up, startled, noticing a subtle change in Li Yun. She glanced up again, alarm flashing across her face.
"Answer me." Li Yun withdrew her hand, keeping her composure. She needed answers—she needed to understand where exactly she was, and what in the world was happening.
"Y-Yes." The girl ducked her head hastily, not daring to ask why her mistress, who'd just experienced the scene, was requesting it again. "Today at the poetry gathering, you weren't feeling well and wanted to avoid it, but as you knew His Highness would be present, you decided to attend anyway. But those wicked ladies from Prince Rong's Manor and the County Princess from Duke Xiao's Manor joined Princess Qingwan in causing trouble. They took advantage of your distraction and tried to push you into the lake. Had it not been for Lady Yu Ning from the Prime Minister's Manor mentioning that both the reclusive Young Master Jing and the returning Lord Ran would be attending, they might not have been so quick to run off. They left in such a rush." She sighed heavily. "This servant knew they had bad intentions and urged you to go to the Empress first, but Miss didn't listen. You've never let anyone get the better of you! Had you fallen into the lake, the consequences could have been dire... Thankfully—"
"Then why do I feel faint?" Li Yun's eyes narrowed in thought as she interrupted. If she hadn't fallen into the water, what was causing her dizziness? She felt as if she had just woken from a long slumber.
"Miss struck her head on the lake's edge," the girl answered promptly.
"No wonder my memory is fuzzy," Li Yun muttered, rubbing her temple as she feigned nonchalance. But in truth, her hands were clenched tightly under her sleeves, her entire body subtly shaking with the effort to remain seated upright.
If this wasn't a dream, then she had somehow crossed paths with a ghost.
But ghosts? At high noon? She glanced up at the blazing sun.
"Miss, did you say you can't remember?" The girl froze, alarm flooding her face.
"Yes," Li Yun replied vaguely.
"And... what else have you forgotten?" The girl lifted her blood-streaked face, wide eyes scanning Li Yun's expression. She seemed oblivious to her own injuries, her only thought to uncover more.
"What else, indeed..." Li Yun murmured, choosing her words carefully as she gauged how best to get more information without raising suspicion.
But before she could continue, a low, amused laugh drifted from nearby, followed by a warm, teasing voice. "Ah, Little Moon, everyone's gone to the garden. Why are you hiding out here? I just saw the Crown Prince headed that way. If you don't hurry over, he might get lost in a crowd of admirers and forget all about you!"
YOU ARE READING
The Dandy's Duchess
Chick-Lit"The Dandy's Duchess" tells the story of the youngest and most talented general of the National Security Bureau, who sacrifices his life for his country and finds his soul transported to another world, where he is reborn as Yun Qianyue, the only leg...
