The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 132: Mutual Rescue (2)

"Yes, there are far too many fools these days and not enough wise people. And I am the wisest of them all. If you save me now, I could help you with many things. Whatever you want, I'll help you get it. So, what do you say?" Yun Qianyue persisted, trying her best to convince him.

"That's even more reason not to save you. The smarter a person is, the less I can trust them," Rongjing remained unmoved.

Unbelievable! Yun Qianyue never thought she'd be offering herself to someone only to be rejected so dismissively. She glared at Rongjing, feeling the suppressed fire within her surge again. Gritting her teeth, she demanded, "Are you going to help me or not? Just give me a straight answer!"

"No," Rongjing answered firmly.

"Fine, have it your way!" Yun Qianyue shut her eyes, grumbling through clenched teeth, "Just wait until you're in the same predicament someday. Don't expect me to save you!"

"Don't worry. You'll be dead from bleeding through all seven orifices before that day arrives," Rongjing replied, utterly unperturbed.

Yun Qianyue felt as though she could cough up blood from sheer frustration, but before the blood came, the fire flared up across her face again, leaving her both irritated and angry. "Why does it have to be you, this heartless, inhuman guy? If only that fraud from Lingyin Temple were here, he'd probably take pity and help. Wait, no, never mind—he'd be willing, but I'd rather not have to kiss up to an old monk. And ugh, that Night Prince! If he were here, he'd definitely help..."

Rongjing's dark expression shifted, and he suddenly reached out, grabbing Yun Qianyue's wrist. In one swift movement, he pulled her into his embrace, lowering his head to stare at her flushed face and hazy eyes. "What did you say?" he asked.

"What...?" Yun Qianyue's head was spinning. She felt like she couldn't hold on any longer. She had tried everything—from the monk to Rongjing—her two worst options, and nothing had worked. She was out of weapons to resist the effects of the aphrodisiac.

"Repeat what you just said!" Rongjing demanded.

"What...what did I say...?" Yun Qianyue's last thread of awareness was slipping. She suddenly reached out to hug Rongjing. "Mmm, Rongjing, you gorgeous man, what's the point of being so good-looking? How could anyone resist touching you..."

Rongjing froze.

Yun Qianyue managed to wrap her arms around him, her hands exploring as she muttered, "I've met so many men in my life, but none as handsome as you. Especially that day outside the palace... you were so incredibly beautiful. I wanted to pounce on you right then, but didn't have the courage..."

Rongjing's dark gaze faded, and he stared down at Yun Qianyue's moving lips.

"Not that I have the courage now..." Yun Qianyue stopped, her face showing a hint of grievance. Her eyes, now hazy and unfocused, murmured, "Ah, if I really went after you, I'd be scorned by everyone, pelted with insults. You're such a lofty mountain that everyone reveres, while I'm just some nobody. How could I ever reach you..."

"Can you not say anything pleasant for once?" Rongjing raised an eyebrow at her self-deprecating comparison.

Yun Qianyue, caught in her haze, seemed not to hear him. She withdrew her hands, mumbling to herself, "Maybe I shouldn't. It may be a feast, but not everyone can afford it. You're too precious, more valuable than all those gold statues. I can't afford to have you..."

Rongjing shifted his gaze away.

Yun Qianyue continued, "The gold is nice, but I've seen national treasuries before. Why would I care about this petty wealth? And I have my bank cards, the numbers on them would terrify people. But what's the point of all that money? You can't take it with you when you're gone..."

Rongjing looked back at her, his gaze puzzled.

Yun Qianyue sighed, "At least I've come far enough in this life not to die in an explosion. Instead, I get to die in the arms of a handsome man. Heh... They say 'to die under the peony flower, it's worth being a ghost.' I never had a chance to be flirtatious before, but now I finally have one..."

Rongjing furrowed his brows and placed his hand on Yun Qianyue's forehead. It was so hot that it could scorch an ox. His lips pressed together tightly.

The cool touch made Yun Qianyue shudder. She mumbled something again, though it came out too faint to hear.

After a moment, Rongjing spoke, his voice low, "If I save you, will you marry me?"

But Yun Qianyue lay silent and motionless in his arms, seemingly lost in a feverish daze.

Rongjing looked at her and let out a quiet laugh, different from his usual serene tone—a hint of derision mixed in. He looked up at the Buddha statue, his voice barely audible, "So, it seems I'm also capable of losing myself..."

Yun Qianyue remained silent, as though she could no longer hear any sound from the world around her.

Rongjing withdrew his gaze from the statue, his smile fading. He took Yun Qianyue's hands, pressing his palms against hers. A cool, blue energy flowed from his hands into hers.

In no time, Yun Qianyue's eyes fluttered open. Her gaze met Rongjing's composed and refined expression, and she froze.

"Don't move," Rongjing warned softly, though his eyes remained closed.

Yun Qianyue felt a powerful force in her body, guiding and channeling her own internal energy to counteract the flames triggered by the aphrodisiac. She immediately understood—Rongjing was using his power to help her resist the drug's effects. Those who couldn't withstand the heat of the drug eventually succumbed, bleeding from all seven orifices. Her only way to fight it was through this extreme method. She hadn't expected Rongjing to use such a costly technique to save her, and she didn't need to guess to know this was severely draining his strength. It likely consumed even more than using his inner force to sense outwardly.

She remembered what Xian Ge had once told her—that martial artists highly value their power and never waste it lightly. Looking at Rongjing, she felt a flicker of astonishment.

"If you don't gather your energy to guide it yourself, I won't be able to save you," Rongjing said.

Yun Qianyue remained still, simply staring at him, as if in a trance.