The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 3: Testing the Waters (2)

Li Yun's head whipped around at the sound of the voice.

A young man stepped out from behind a rockery nearby. He appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, dressed in a light lavender robe similar to her own. His robe was tailored to accentuate his broad shoulders and slim waist, cinched by a jade belt. His features were fair and refined, and his phoenix eyes—dark and luminous like obsidian—exuded a subtle glow. He walked towards her leisurely, fanning himself with a finely crafted landscape fan, his expression brimming with an easy charm and casual smile.

Li Yun studied the man who had suddenly appeared, but she had no interest in admiring his striking looks; the bizarre feeling in her chest only deepened.

The rockery was about thirty paces from the pavilion. Had he just arrived, or had he been hiding behind it all along? Her eyes narrowed as she reviewed her actions since awakening. Thankfully, she had done nothing out of character. She let out a subtle breath of relief, remaining seated and composed as she watched him approach.

This instinctive caution had been a survival skill honed over many years. In such an unusual situation, she wasn't about to make any sudden moves without understanding what was happening. If this wasn't a dream, and if the bright daylight meant there were no ghosts, then this man had to be real. Her mind cleared gradually, and fragments of memory surfaced.

She recalled ordering the entire National Security Bureau to evacuate while she stayed behind to dismantle a ticking bomb. The mechanism was a complex piece of technology, requiring all her knowledge and skill. At the last second, she succeeded, only to realize too late that a hidden timer was counting down. With no time left to disarm it, she leapt from the twelfth floor, clutching the device—there was no way she could let it destroy the Bureau and compromise countless lives and classified information.

But did anyone survive a twelve-story fall? She wasn't some kind of superhuman, capable of defying death. Even if she were, the bomb would have obliterated her completely. And yet, here she was, under a blazing sun, bright as day...

A wild, impossible notion stirred within her.

She had always dismissed talk of reincarnation or time-travel as fantasy, but this surreal scenario shattered her convictions. Could it be that, against all odds, she had not only escaped death but been reborn? And in an ancient world?

No matter how absurd the thought, her expression betrayed nothing. As the young man drew closer, her gaze remained steady.

"What's this? Only a few days apart, and it seems my dear Yue doesn't recognize me?" he teased, eyes fixed on her face with a penetrating look.

Li Yun met his gaze impassively, without a hint of expression.

"Well now, it seems she really doesn't recognize me!" He seemed amused by her cool demeanor, eyes glinting with intrigue. Without pausing, he took a few more steps and entered the pavilion, stopping right in front of her as he looked intently at her, as if trying to see into her thoughts.

Li Yun tensed slightly, determined not to reveal her confusion. She couldn't act without understanding the situation.

"Hmm... It's been so long since I've seen this look on you. Who has managed to upset my Yue?" He couldn't read her expression, and a flash of surprise crossed his gaze. He laughed lightly, though there was an undercurrent of discontent.

Li Yun cast him a bland look, remaining silent.

"Ah, so she really is upset?" He smiled faintly before sitting down on a nearby stone bench. Leaning back, he fanned himself leisurely and drawled, "Come now, tell me who's been troubling you, and I'll make sure they pay."

She glanced at him and noticed the light in his eyes was not as warm as his smile suggested. Lowering her gaze to the girl kneeling silently at her feet, she said in a calm tone that revealed nothing, "You can tell him who wronged me."

The young man blinked, surprised. His gaze dropped to the kneeling girl, only just now noticing the blood on the ground. His expression didn't change, as though this were a common occurrence.

"Y-yes, Miss." The girl's voice trembled as she recounted the events.

"Ah, so that's what happened." The young man's expression darkened. "Even if His Highness the Crown Prince has no regard for you personally, he should respect the Empress and the Duke Yun's Manor. How could he stand by and let you be treated that way?" He let out a scoff, though his eyes were cold.

Once again, the Crown Prince. Since she had awakened, these were the words she'd heard most often. Li Yun's expression remained unreadable.

"Come, let's go to the main garden," he said. "Things are lively there; the poetry gathering is in full swing. If you want to set things right, that's the best place to do it. The Empress will back you up—why should you worry? Even Princess Qingwan wouldn't dare step out of line in front of her. You could put every lady there in their place." He had barely sat down when he sprang up again, grasping her wrist and pulling her up.

Li Yun was startled. How had he managed to grab her wrist so effortlessly? She'd spent years honing her reflexes, never allowing anyone to touch her without permission. Her gaze turned sharp, and she prepared to pull her hand free.

"Don't you want to go?" he asked, looking back at her. Though his grip seemed gentle, she felt an unyielding force that left her unable to move.

Suppressing the turmoil roiling within, she forced herself to stay calm. "No, I don't want to."

"Are you afraid? Because the Crown Prince is there?" He raised an eyebrow. "So, you're willing to let them push you around?"

"Enough about him! Aren't you sick of saying his name?" Li Yun snapped. Ever since waking, she'd been hearing about him non-stop, and her patience had worn thin. With her free hand, she struck at his wrist, blunt and forceful.

As she moved, she felt a surge of warmth from deep within her core, coursing through her veins and gathering in her hand. It was strange—as though a newfound strength had welled up inside her, a strength that left her with the impression that even a bull wouldn't stand a chance.