The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 113: Painting Skills, Lifelike Brushwork (3)

Not long after, Cailian returned with a bowl of sobering soup. She stood beside the bed, looking at Yun Qianyue, who was unconscious, unsure how to proceed. She glanced at Yun Muhan. "Your Highness, Miss Yun is thoroughly drunk; she won't be able to drink this."

"Just make her drink it," Yun Muhan replied.

Cailian nodded, placed a handkerchief under Yun Qianyue's chin, and attempted to press the bowl to her lips, but Yun Qianyue's mouth was tightly shut. After several unsuccessful tries, Cailian looked back to Yun Muhan.

Yun Muhan walked over, grasped Yun Qianyue's chin, and gently applied pressure, causing her to open her mouth. Cailian quickly poured the sobering soup down her throat, and Yun Qianyue instinctively swallowed. At last, Cailian finished administering the soup and wiped the sweat from her forehead, sighing in relief, "Your Highness is truly skilled!"

Without a word, Yun Muhan released his hand and turned to leave.

Cailian hesitated. "Will Your Highness not stay a bit longer?"

Yun Muhan paused at the doorway, and just when she thought he wouldn't respond, his voice drifted back, cold and distant, "When she wakes, tell her she is never to drink again."

"Yes, Your Highness." Cailian answered, watching him disappear into the courtyard.

As Yun Muhan left, Yun Qianyue suddenly rolled over and muttered something. Cailian leaned closer but couldn't make out her words. Sighing, she thought about how Miss Yun used to be aloof, always causing trouble, and she had been difficult to serve. Now that she was warmer to others, the trouble she caused seemed even greater, making her even harder to manage.

Cailian tucked the covers around Yun Qianyue before retreating, feeling a headache from the lingering smell of wine. She closed the door behind her.

Just then, Ting Xue and Ting Yu's voices sounded from the courtyard, "Greetings, Young Master Rongjing!"

Cailian turned to see Rongjing entering the courtyard. She quickly went over to greet him with a bow, "Greetings, Young Master Rongjing."

Rongjing acknowledged her with a nod and headed towards the main room without breaking stride.

"Young Master Rongjing, Miss Yun just drank the sobering soup mixed with my master's remedy, yet she's still sleeping off her intoxication," Cailian informed him, thinking of Yun Muhan's close relationship with Miss Yun as her brother, which made his presence appropriate in her chambers. But for Young Master Rongjing, an outsider, it felt improper for him to enter.

"She drank the special Lan Blossom Brew; a regular sobering remedy won't work. I need to check on her," Rongjing explained without turning back. "If not, she may be out for another three days."

"What? Then please, quickly see to Miss Yun!" Cailian exclaimed in surprise, hastily opening the door for him.

As the door opened, a powerful waft of alcohol hit them, attesting to the brew's potency.

Rongjing entered without hesitation, disregarding any impropriety in stepping into a lady's quarters.

Yun Qianyue lay sprawled on the bed, deeply intoxicated. Cailian hastily moved over to pull up the blanket that Yun Qianyue had kicked off and, pinching her nose, looked up at Rongjing. She couldn't resist voicing her frustration. "Young Master Rongjing, this wine is far too strong! How could you allow Miss Yun to drink it?"

She recalled how she, Ting Yu, and Ting Xue had trailed Yun Qianyue and Rongjing halfway up the mountain before exhaustion took over. With Young Master Rongjing accompanying Miss Yun, they'd assumed she was safe and decided to return, never expecting her to return completely drunk—almost as troublesome as the time she and Prince Yan nearly set the North Mountain ablaze roasting fish.

"She insisted on it," Rongjing replied, removing a pill from his sleeve and placing it near Yun Qianyue's lips without handing it to Cailian.

"Young Master Rongjing, Miss Yun is so out of it, she won't take anything willingly," Cailian remarked. "His Highness had to hold her chin just to get the soup down."

"That won't be necessary." Rongjing shook his head, and in a gentle tone, he spoke to Yun Qianyue, "Want another Tianshan Snow Lotus pill?"

Before he'd finished speaking, Yun Qianyue had already opened her mouth, readily accepting the pill.

Cailian's eyes widened in shock and admiration. "Young Master Rongjing, you're amazing!"

"She's just a little glutton. She won't turn down anything tasty." Rongjing chuckled lightly. With that, he turned to leave, giving instructions over his shoulder, "She should be up by tomorrow. Stay here and watch over her. If she keeps pulling at her blankets and catches cold, it'll cause problems."

"Yes, Young Master Rongjing!" Cailian answered, feeling drowsy herself from the overpowering wine aroma and wondering how she'd last till morning.

As he reached the doorway, Rongjing glanced back to find Cailian pinching her nose and looking drowsy. He sighed and, after a brief pause, walked back over to her. "Forget it. Since you three aren't used to wine and this brew is quite potent, it'll affect you, too, if you stay in here too long. Leave—I'll watch her."

"But how could I let Young Master Rongjing take care of her? I can manage." Cailian quickly protested.

Rongjing waved her off. "If you can't handle it, don't push yourself. Her health is the priority."

Cailian thought about it; Young Master Rongjing was honorable and wouldn't dare take advantage of Miss Yun. And she, feeling increasingly woozy from the wine's effects, doubted she'd stay alert. Bowing, she agreed, "In that case, I leave her in your care, Young Master Rongjing. We'll be just outside; please call if you need anything."

Rongjing nodded, and Cailian retreated. As she reached the door, she thought about leaving it open but decided it would be inappropriate for others to see Young Master Rongjing in Miss Yun's room. She closed the door behind her and joined Ting Xue and Ting Yu to chat quietly.

Rongjing moved towards the soft couch, but after only a few steps, Yun Qianyue kicked off her blanket again. He paused, turned back to look at her, and, seeing her settled, resumed his way. But after just one more step, she kicked the blanket off yet again, and this time, she'd also undone the first two fasteners on her collar, exposing her delicate neck, flushed with a rosy hue. He frowned slightly.

Yun Qianyue continued to sleep peacefully, oblivious to her disarray.

Rongjing approached the bed again, fastening her collar and pulling up the blanket, his pale, jade-like fingers brushing against her skin as he did so. Calmly, he warned, "If you move one more time, you can say goodbye to hibiscus-roasted fish."