The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 102: "If You Want It, I'll Give It to You (8)"

"Pressure points? Is there really such a thing in this world?"

Yun Qianyue halted immediately, watching Rongjing with eyes lit up with excitement. She took a step forward and grabbed his arm, her eyes sparkling. "Hey, you really know how to strike pressure points? Can you teach me?"

Yuning, taken aback, stared fixedly at Yun Qianyue's hand on Rongjing's arm. There was a rumor that Rongjing never allowed anyone within three steps of him, and no one dared try. But Yun Qianyue was acting so impolite? And in front of everyone? Even worse, didn't she care about social propriety between men and women? Was she asking for trouble? And she even wanted Rongjing to teach her pressure point techniques...

Ye Tianqing, too, stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed on Yun Qianyue's hand on Rongjing's arm. His eyes grew darker and deeper.

Ye Tianyu blinked in surprise, glancing at Rongjing. Seeing Rongjing's unchanged expression and Yun Qianyue's glowing face, he caught a glimpse of Ye Tianqing's and Yuning's complex expressions. A flicker of amusement crossed his eyes as he turned to Yun Qianyue with a smirk. "Sister Yue, surely you know that the art of pressure points is a long-kept secret of the Rong household. The technique is unique, capable of striking from a hundred steps away, and it's passed down strictly within the family. It's taught only to male heirs, never to females, and it's passed on only to the legitimate line. Only the legitimate heir's wife, not concubines, is permitted to learn it. Are you planning to marry into the Rong family, or perhaps marry him?"

Yun Qianyue blinked in confusion, looking back at the Fourth Prince with an uncomprehending expression.

"Are you saying you want the Prince to teach you pressure point techniques? Or are you hoping to marry into the Rong family?" Ye Tianyu dropped this provocative comment with a wink.

Yun Qianyue was speechless. It was just a technique—did it have to be so complicated? She glanced at Ye Tianqing and Yuning's somber expressions. It seemed that Ye Tianyu's words weren't far from the truth. She turned to Rongjing and raised an eyebrow. "So, I have to marry you to learn this technique?"

Rongjing looked at her with a gentle nod. "Yes."

Yun Qianyue released his arm immediately, patting her palm as though brushing away something unpleasant. She made a sound of disdain. "Marry you? I don't think so."

Giving herself away for a mere technique? Not her style!

The faint tension in Ye Tianqing's eyes instantly vanished, while Yuning sighed quietly in relief.

Ye Tianyu laughed heartily at her quick retreat. "Sister Yue, countless people dream of marrying into the Rong family and wedding the Prince, but here you are, refusing the idea outright. Did I hear you wrong?"

Yun Qianyue scoffed. "Refusing is refusing. How could you have misheard that? Are you going deaf?"

Momentarily stunned, Ye Tianyu took a step closer to her, lowering his voice. "Pressure point techniques are secret arts, you know. Few in this world possess such knowledge. The Rong family's methods are considered the standard, but due to their family rules, only a select few have ever been taught the technique. Right now, only the elder Lord Rong and Prince Rongjing know the method of striking from a hundred steps away. So, if you wanted to learn it, you'd indeed have to marry into the Rong family and be accepted into the legitimate line. The elder lord is well past seventy, so that's not possible. The Lord and Lady Rong passed away ten years ago, so the only person left to marry is the Prince."

Yun Qianyue's excitement for learning the art plummeted. As useful as the pressure point skill sounded, her life's happiness was far more important. Besides, she wanted to stay as far away as possible from this dark-hearted man. Marrying him would mean constant torment. She immediately waved her hand. "Forget it! I don't need to learn it."

"Sister Yue, even if you wanted to, it would hardly be possible. Your status is different from others; you're meant to enter the palace someday. His Majesty would never allow you to marry into the Rong family. The Crown Prince's residence, on the other hand, would be a more fitting place," Yuning said with a soft laugh.

Yun Qianyue's face darkened. She found Yuning's words annoyingly provocative. Coldly, she replied, "How could someone as unsuited as me enter the palace? And besides, the Yun family has no shortage of daughters, enough to fill a whole palace. His Majesty wouldn't make the mistake of choosing me. Lady Qin, jokes like that should be avoided. Otherwise, if the Emperor hears of it, the blame might fall on both you and the Prime Minister's residence."

Yuning's face stiffened, a flash of realization at Yun Qianyue's cold tone. Yun Qianyue had indeed severed all sentiment between herself and the Crown Prince. Her face alternated between red and white as she stammered, "Sister Yue, forgive me. I only meant to convey what everyone else already knows. If my words were inappropriate, I apologize. I didn't mean to offend."

"I thought that as the capital's most renowned lady, praised even by His Majesty, Lady Qin had a discerning mind. Following public opinion as though it were truth, is that true wisdom? The Yun family has never been bound by titles of legitimacy or branch. And as for my oath, I will neither enter the palace nor the Crown Prince's residence. Consider this your last warning. If I hear another comment like that, don't expect me to hold back for the sake of our acquaintance." With a cold look, Yun Qianyue turned and strode forward. Since Yuning's intentions were so incompatible with her own, she had no interest in pretending at friendship. Anyone who crossed her line would have to bear the consequences.

This time, Yuning's face went completely pale, and her eyes filled with humiliation and shock.

Ye Tianqing's expression turned dark and stormy. Since that day in the palace when Yun Qianyue had cut all ties with him, this was the second time he'd heard her publicly declare her rejection of the royal family. Anger surged within him, and he suddenly reached out to grab Yun Qianyue.

Although Yun Qianyue was walking quickly, her natural instincts picked up on his movement. Her gaze turned cold as she prepared to shrug him off. But before she could, Rongjing's hand lifted gracefully to block Ye Tianqing. She paused, glancing up to see his calm and refined face, as gentle as ever.

Ye Tianqing hadn't expected Rongjing to intervene, and his expression darkened. "Prince Rong, what do you mean by this?"