The Dandy's Duchess

Chapter 190: Hidden Guards (1)

"I haven't finished yet, you can go ahead," Yun Qianyue waved her hand dismissively.

QingShang nodded, closed the door, and left the room.

Yun Qianyue looked at the remaining books on the table but had no more interest in reading. She tossed the books aside and fell into deep thought. Her mind was filled with memories of her past life and the knowledge she had gathered from the books in this world—there was nothing else. She sighed, wondering if the actions of this body's previous owner were the cause of her current situation. It wasn't that she was dirty-minded, but Rong Feng's words had made it almost impossible not to think that way.

Rong Feng had said, "It's been years since we've met." This meant they were acquainted!

Yun Qianyue felt a dull pain in her head. She placed a hand on her forehead, immediately halting her line of thought. Let things be, she thought. I'm no longer the old Yun Qianyue, and there's no need to get tangled in this. With that, she stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and headed for the door.

Just as she reached the door, QingShang hurriedly returned. Upon seeing Yun Qianyue, she said, "Miss Qianyue, our Young Master says you don't need to finish reading. The head steward of Prince Yun's Mansion has come to escort you back. The carriage is waiting at the door, and since it's getting late, you needn't say your goodbyes. You should go back now."

Yun Qianyue paused and glanced at Rongjing's room. The lamps were still unlit, and the curtain was drawn, with a figure faintly visible by the window. She withdrew her gaze and nodded, "Alright, I'll go back now."

"I'll escort you out," QingShang offered, leading the way.

Yun Qianyue didn't hesitate and followed her out.

Once they stepped out of the Zizhu Grove, Yun Qianyue saw two young men sitting by the pavilion on the hanging bridge. They were the same ones she had seen when she first arrived at Prince Rong's Mansion—Rongjing's brothers. Yun Qianyue ignored them, allowing QingShang to lead her across the bridge.

As they drew closer to the pavilion, the two men stood up and bowed to her in a refined manner. "I am Rong Yi, and this is Rong Zhe. Miss Qianyue, we greet you."

"Greetings, gentlemen," Yun Qianyue replied, always finding it hard to remain aloof when others treated her with courtesy—unless, of course, it was Ye Tianqing. She gave them a brief nod and continued walking without stopping.

Rong Yi and Rong Zhe were clearly taken by surprise that Yun Qianyue greeted them so pleasantly. Both of them wore bright smiles. They had been waiting here for half a month, but since they hadn't dared approach her inside the Zizhu Grove, they were eager to make their move now. They quickly stepped forward to stop her.

"Miss Qianyue, please wait a moment. Would you sit with us and have some tea?" they asked in unison.

Yun Qianyue stopped but shook her head. "I'm not thirsty."

The two men were momentarily speechless, unsure of what else to say to keep her there.

QingShang, holding back a smile, stepped in to diffuse the situation. "Gentlemen, now is not the time for tea. Prince Yun's carriage is waiting at the door, and Miss Qianyue is in a hurry to leave. You really think she has time to sit and drink tea?"

"Well then, let the carriage wait a little longer!" Rong Yi immediately responded.

"Indeed!" Rong Zhe quickly agreed.

The closer they were to Yun Qianyue, the more they found themselves drawn to her beauty. The setting sun bathed her in a soft, golden light, her purple robes adding an air of nobility to her already captivating appearance. She was like a painting come to life, walking out from behind the purple bamboo grove.

Yun Qianyue couldn't help but think, So this is how it feels to be hit on. She felt a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.

QingShang immediately cut in, "Letting Prince Yun's carriage wait for a moment is fine, but I'm afraid the Emperor's eunuch, Master Lu, can't afford to wait. If you two gentlemen delay Miss Qianyue, Master Lu might get upset. Word has it that Master Lu is waiting at Prince Yun's Mansion to deliver a message from His Majesty!"

At the mention of the Emperor's eunuch, the two men immediately stepped aside.

Yun Qianyue didn't spare them another glance. She simply walked past the pavilion, with QingShang following closely behind. It didn't take long for them to leave the Rong Prince's Mansion.

Once they had gone some distance, Rong Yi and Rong Zhe continued to watch them leave.

Soon after, two maids appeared with lanterns in hand. One of them, upon seeing Rong Yi, gave a curtsey and called out, "Second Young Master, Second Madam sent me to ask you to come back to the courtyard!"

The other maid addressed Rong Zhe with similar news. "Third Young Master, Third Madam also sent me to invite you to dinner. She has made your favorite dishes."

The two men finally broke their gaze and, looking somewhat frustrated, waved their hands dismissively. "Tell them I'm not going. I have other matters to attend to."

"Second Young Master? What...?" one of the maids stammered.

"Third Young Master, Madam is waiting for you. What if you don't go?" the other maid asked nervously.

"Don't go. What's the problem with that? Leave me alone," Rong Yi snapped, his mood clearly sour.

The maids exchanged uncertain looks but quickly turned to leave. They both knew their mistresses would be upset that their husbands had refused the invitations. For the past half month, the two young masters had done nothing but loiter here, seemingly without purpose. The maids had finally managed to figure out that the reason they had been waiting was because Yun Qianyue had moved into the Zizhu Grove. They couldn't help but think that it was strange for two married men, each with wives and concubines, to be so captivated by Yun Qianyue. Even if Yun Qianyue's reputation wasn't perfect, she was still the legitimate daughter of Prince Yun's Mansion, and neither of these two men had any business pursuing her.

As the two maids walked away, Rong Yi and Rong Zhe exchanged glances and sighed, then sat back down.

"Second Brother, I don't think tea is appropriate. How about we have some wine instead?" Rong Zhe suggested.

"You're right. If I'd known Yun Qianyue was so... so beautiful, I wouldn't have married so early," Rong Yi said with a hint of regret.

"A beauty like that—if only we could share a night with her, it would be worth it," Rong Zhe said, lamenting.

"Pfft, someone else already has that privilege. They've been in his courtyard for days now. By now, she's probably not even pure anymore," Rong Yi muttered, clearly resentful.

Rong Zhe glanced towards the Zizhu Grove and snorted, "How much longer can he last? Just wait and see."

Rong Yi also looked toward the grove and snorted. "This Rong Prince's Mansion is long overdue for a change of owner."

Both men looked away at the same time, and without speaking, they silently thought of ways to bring Yun Qianyue closer, even if only for a fleeting moment.