The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 60: Where is the Phoenix Scripture (1)

Yun Qianyue stared at the retreating figure of Yun Muhan, nearly spitting blood. A hundred hidden guards in Shanyue Pavilion? Another hundred at each of the four gates of the Prince's residence? That made a total of five hundred people. Even if she had ten people with her, she wouldn't be able to escape. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself down, but it was impossible not to feel angry. Her beautiful face twisted into a color akin to that of a liver. Damn it! Life was unbearable.

"Miss?" Cai Lian stood far behind Yun Qianyue, not daring to approach. Her mistress looked terrifying!

"Go to sleep!" Yun Qianyue shot a glance at Cai Lian and Zhao Mama before turning and striding back to her room, slamming the door shut. She recalled the Phoenix Scripture that the old marquis mentioned; it seemed quite powerful. However, she had no memories of this body at all. She reached to touch herself. After bathing and changing clothes these past two days, she had nothing but a few accessories. Her eyes began to dart around the room, thinking that the Phoenix Scripture should be some kind of martial arts manual. Such things were typically written on silk or leather; she wondered where it could be hidden.

With that thought, she began to rummage through her room. She searched the bedside cabinet, the wardrobe, the bookshelf, and even felt along the walls for secret compartments. The sound of her searching filled the room.

"Miss, are you looking for something?" Cai Lian's voice came from outside the door.

"Nothing!" Yun Qianyue continued her search.

Cai Lian fell silent.

About an hour later, after having turned the room upside down, Yun Qianyue fell onto her bed in despair. Was there really any hope of finding the Phoenix Scripture? Or had the original Yun Qianyue memorized it so well that it was burned to prevent others from learning it? If that were the case, what could she expect?

"Miss, did you find what you were looking for?" Cai Lian's cautious voice came again.

"No!" Yun Qianyue replied, dejected.

"What are you looking for? If you tell me, I might be able to help you find it," Cai Lian tentatively asked.

Hearing this, Yun Qianyue perked up. She almost said the Phoenix Scripture but remembered that a little girl who had only been here for six months probably wouldn't know about such confidential matters. So she thought for a moment and said, "Something very precious that my grandfather gave me. I forgot where I put it. Do you know?"

Cai Lian shook her head. "I've only been here for six months. In that time, the old marquis has only maintained the miss and hasn't given you anything else. That must have been from before. The servants who used to attend you have either died or left. Now there's just me. By the way, your wet nurse would have known. She was closest to you, but she's also gone..."

Is the heavens trying to ruin me? Yun Qianyue closed her eyes in despair.

"Miss? Is it really that important? What should we do? Should I come in and help you look?" Cai Lian asked again.

"Forget it. It's not that important. If I can't find it, then I can't," Yun Qianyue said, having lost all interest. The martial arts of the ancient world were mysterious; even if she found it, she probably wouldn't be able to learn it. She tiredly closed her eyes. "You can go."

"Yes!" Cai Lian left.

The next day, Yun Muhan arrived at Shanyue Pavilion early again.

That day, Yun Qianyue dragged herself through another listless day. As Yun Muhan was leaving, he glanced at her but didn't say a word.

For the following ten days, Yun Qianyue had completely resigned herself to her fate. She thought about outlasting him; after all, she had spent over ten years in a military academy training. If she couldn't endure this, what would she have accomplished? She'd have been ground to dust long ago!

Half a month passed, and the Shanyue Pavilion was so quiet that not even a bird would dare to fly in.

Yun Qianyue had memorized the names of all the people in the residence to the point of feeling sick. When she finally got to manage the household, she would settle the scores with those who had been bothering her, one by one. She was determined to take revenge!

That evening, as Yun Muhan was leaving, he casually remarked, "It seems you've memorized the names of everyone in the residence and can write them quite well. We can start studying the account books tomorrow."

"Fine!" Yun Qianyue dragged out the word.

Yun Muhan looked at her seriously, stood up, and left Shanyue Pavilion.

As soon as he left, Cai Lian sighed. Yun Qianyue didn't pretend she hadn't heard; after a moment, she glared at Cai Lian. "The one suffering through this isn't you! Why do you keep sighing?"

Cai Lian looked at her with some grievance. "I'm sighing for you, Miss. I didn't realize learning to read would be so difficult. If I had known, I would have listened to you and sent the account books back to the marquis before the young lord arrived. Now you seem unhappy every day, and seeing you like this makes me feel bad too. Haven't you noticed? Even Zhao Mama, Ting Yu, and Ting Xue haven't smiled in days. The other servants in Shanyue Pavilion look like they've turned mute!"

"What can I do about it?" Yun Qianyue leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes in despair.

"And tomorrow is the Prayer Festival. The Heavenly Saint court will be praying for three days. But just when the young lord left, he said you were to start studying the account books tomorrow. Doesn't that mean you won't be able to leave the residence?" Cai Lian continued, her voice filled with sadness. "I heard that the number one holy monk, Master Lingyin, will be holding a teaching session at Lingtai Temple on Xiangquan Mountain tomorrow. It's going to be quite lively. I heard the emperor has ordered the crown prince to attend in his stead, and scholars and young lords from across the capital will be there too. Many young ladies from various families have already gone. It's a chance to pray and listen to the holy monk, which is something that might only happen once every few years."

Yun Qianyue pouted, unimpressed. "So what if I can't go? It's just a monk."

"Miss? How can you say that? Master Lingyin isn't just any monk. You might not know, but I've heard he's not only profound in Buddhist teachings but also can read the will of heaven. He once predicted that the emperor would become an emperor by reading the emperor's face. At that time, the former emperor hadn't even established the crown prince yet, and not long after, he indeed made the current emperor the crown prince. After he ascended to the throne, he became the sovereign!" Cai Lian said, lowering her voice as she leaned closer to Yun Qianyue. "I've also heard that many young ladies are not just there to listen to the teachings, but to seek a fortune from Master Lingyin. They want to know if they can find a good husband."