As soon as Yun Qianyue landed on the tree branch, she found herself enveloped by an assortment of fragrances. She cast a disdainful glance around at the heavily perfumed sachets and incense packets hanging from the branches, tying her three ribbons onto a branch, deliberately keeping them distant from the red ribbon belonging to Ye Tianqing. Just as she finished securing them, a peculiar scent wafted over to her. Startled, she took a careful sniff, only to have her nose overwhelmed by an array of strong scents. She sneezed and immediately prepared to leap back down. This tree was unbearable!
"Miss, wait! Could you tie up my ribbon as well? I can't reach up there!" Cai Lian called out.
Yun Qianyue held her nose. "Just throw it up to me, then."
Cai Lian quickly gathered her ribbon and tossed it up. "Miss, catch!"
Yun Qianyue caught it and, suppressing her urge to sneeze, went about tying Cai Lian's ribbon. She thought to simply tie it together with hers, but Cai Lian insisted from below, "Miss, please tie it separately. Otherwise, it won't be effective!"
"What a picky request!" Yun Qianyue muttered, having no choice but to tie each of Cai Lian's ribbons onto different branches.
"Miss, mine too!" Ting Xue ran forward.
"Miss, mine as well!" Ting Yu joined in.
"Just throw them all up!" Yun Qianyue said helplessly, fighting off sneezes as she addressed Ting Xue and Ting Yu below.
Delighted, Ting Xue and Ting Yu tossed their ribbons up, which Yun Qianyue caught and secured on the branches. After finally finishing, she looked down and asked wearily, "All done now?"
"All done!" they all replied in unison.
Feeling as though she'd been granted a pardon, Yun Qianyue leapt down from the tree, sneezing several times as her feet touched the ground. She felt overwhelmed by the strong scents clinging to her and instructed Ting Xue and Ting Yu, "Let's go. I need a bath immediately."
"Yes!" Cai Lian hurried over to support Yun Qianyue.
She took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, pressing it to her nose. The handkerchief bore a faint, refreshing scent, like snow mixed with lotus. It was soothing, and she felt slightly better, even too tired to say anything as she began to walk away.
"Elder Sister Yun..." Qin Yuning suddenly called out, stopping her.
"Yes?" Yun Qianyue turned to look at her, exasperated by whatever triviality this woman might bring up next.
"That...is that the Young Prince Rong's handkerchief you're using?" Qin Yuning's gaze was fixed intently on Yun Qianyue's hand.
At her words, Ye Tianqing's gaze also fell upon Yun Qianyue's hand, his expression darkening when he saw the pristine handkerchief.
"Oh, I was struck with a cold, didn't have a handkerchief, and he generously lent me his." Yun Qianyue remembered that she was using Rongjing's handkerchief. Although she knew Qin Yuning fancied Rongjing, it was just a handkerchief. Why should she keep her distance from the man just because another woman had a crush on him? Unconcerned, she looked at the handkerchief and said, "There's nothing on it to show it's his, though. How can you be so sure?"
Qin Yuning lowered her head, remaining silent.
"The Young Prince's handkerchiefs are easily recognizable. Unlike others, he never has a monogram embroidered on his. Besides, he's the only one in the Heavenly Saint Dynasty to use silk from the Snow Silkworm. After he was honored as the nation's foremost talent, my father gifted him the only batch of Snow Silkworm silk available. That makes his handkerchiefs quite distinguishable," Ye Tianqing explained, his tone noticeably heavier, lacking his usual warmth.
"Oh, I see! No wonder it felt different from my own." Yun Qianyue waved the handkerchief, marveling at the quality of the Snow Silkworm silk. Pressing the cloth back to her nose, she said nonchalantly, "It's just a handkerchief, no big deal. Anyway, I'll be going now."
With that, she didn't wait for further discussion and turned to leave, sneezing continuously as she went.
"Miss, why are you still sneezing? Didn't the medicine from the Young Prince help?" Cai Lian asked.
"It's that cursed tree—too many scents. It's suffocating," Yun Qianyue replied miserably.
"When we return, I'll prepare hot water for you. A bath will make you feel better," Cai Lian reassured her gently.
"Alright," Yun Qianyue murmured, sniffling.
"Elder Sister Yun, we're headed in the same direction. May I walk with you?" Qin Yuning caught up to Yun Qianyue.
"Fine." Yun Qianyue felt dizzy, beginning to suspect she might be allergic to the fragrances.
"Since it's so late, allow me to escort you back," Ye Tianqing offered, following along.
Too weary to refuse, Yun Qianyue leaned more heavily on Cai Lian as her dizziness intensified. She thought it odd for an allergy to be this severe. What was going on?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, she felt the ground give way beneath her feet, causing her to stumble forward. Qin Yuning and Cai Lian both shrieked, releasing their grip on her, but then a small hand caught hers firmly, and another, larger hand reached toward her waist. Without hesitation, Yun Qianyue struck out in the direction of that larger hand. Despite her dizziness, she instinctively knew it was Ye Tianqing. Though she couldn't discern exactly what was happening, she was certain something was amiss, and there was no way she'd allow him to touch her.
YOU ARE READING
The Dandy's Duchess
Genç Kız Edebiyatı"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...
