Chapter 29: Enchanting Fragrance

The next morning, before dawn, the sky was still dim and gray.

In the dining hall of the Lu mansion.

Lu Yuner sat at the table with dark circles under her eyes, looking unwell. She rested her chin on her hands, sighed deeply, and sank into a jumble of thoughts.

Indeed! She had suffered from insomnia this time.

Rarely, she hadn’t had a nightmare, but the scene she dreamed of was even more bewildering and shocking.

Red candles flickered throughout the room, wedding decorations on the windows, red auspicious clothing scattered messily on the floor, and the silhouettes of a man and woman intertwined behind the red gauze curtains.

An intensely passionate scene of boundless spring unfolded before her.

In the dream, Lu Yuner seemed to be an outsider, looking at the familiar furnishings in the room, realizing this was the bridal chamber left to her by the Lu couple for her wedding night.

The Lu mansion had few close friends due to their private nature, and although there were many empty rooms in the mansion, none had ever been occupied.

Only this bridal chamber was an exception.

This bridal chamber had been empty until now, and although no one lived there, the Lu couple had established a rule years ago that before she moved in, servants were to constantly clean it, ensuring no dust or damage, and keeping it clean and tidy all year round.

Due to her busy official duties, Lu Yuner had been living in the study for convenience.

She had only entered this bridal chamber once, but was still impressed by the layout of the small building and its excellent viewing position.

It was a two-story building located on the south side of the back courtyard, adjacent to the lotus pond on the west. From a distance, it looked as if it was situated in the lotus pond. At that time, the surrounding greenery was lush and flourishing, with flower fragrances permeating the courtyard, a sight of unsurpassed beauty.

The second floor offered a wide view. Opening the exquisitely carved sandalwood windows, one could see the entire landscape of the mansion.

One could enjoy the scenery during the day and stargaze at night, quite a poetic and picturesque experience.

At this moment, the red curtains on the bed were swaying incessantly.

Wave after wave of breathtaking low moans came continuously, making her feel as if she were beside a furnace. Rolling waves of heat surged like turbulent waves, scorching her entire body.

But driven by curiosity, she wanted to know which pair of entwined lovers was enjoying themselves in her bridal chamber.

It definitely wasn’t her!

As Lu Yuner gradually approached the red gauze curtain for a closer look, her expression froze, and she held her breath, realizing the woman who was indulging in cloud and rain with someone.

It was actually herself!!! It was herself!!!

And the her on the bed had smiling, dreamy eyes, a flushed face full of pleasure, seemingly immersed in a soft, gentle paradise.

How could this be her?! So different from herself! But that face, so familiar it couldn’t be more familiar, was indeed her own!

Lu Yuner’s cheeks burned red and hot from the increasingly thick ambiguity behind the red curtains.

And that young man in red robes looked exactly like a pitiful figure she had bullied terribly.

His three thousand ink-black strands of hair were casually spread out, his disheveled undergarments had slipped a bit, revealing a red cinnabar mole below his collarbone.

His skin was as white as snow, contrasting with the red clothes, like snow falling on red plum blossoms, so beautiful it took one’s breath away, impossible to look away from.

Until this young man’s face, flushed with an unnatural red, suddenly raised his gaze to look at Lu Yuner with tender affection.

Rippling with emotion, the corners of his eyes tinged red, filled with deep feelings.

Lu Yuner suddenly recalled again the scene from that day in Qinghua Garden.

That one sentence…

This sentence appeared again, seemingly filled with indescribable magic, suddenly drawing thoughts from an unknown source, an uncontrollable current running wild through her body.

The next moment, desire arose suddenly and fiercely, frightening Lu Yuner awake from her dream.

Afterwards, she could no longer fall asleep, feeling that as soon as she closed her eyes, she would fall back into that heart-pounding dream, that inexplicable trembling sensation sweeping over her body once again.

Even now, she couldn’t understand why she had such an unspeakable spring dream.

And with… As that vivid scene floated in her mind again, Lu Yuner suddenly covered her warming cheeks with both hands.

Ah! What was wrong with her?

Could it be that she had been in contact with this young master Su too frequently, so…

Regarding this shameful dream, she really didn’t know how to explain it.

Could it be that her original body wanted it?

Or had this body been pent up for too long, resulting in the opposite effect?

When the servants of the mansion brought breakfast, Lu Yuner barely came to her senses, but still absentmindedly lowered her head to eat a few bites.

After dining at the Imperial College for these few days, she found that the food at home was still more delicious. Although it was rare for her to come back, the dishes on the table were all her favorites, but for some reason, she couldn’t eat much.

After a moment of frustration.

Suddenly she realized that she hadn’t seen Qiu Yi yet. Usually when she got up in the morning, Qiu Yi would be waiting punctually outside the door for her to wash up. At first, seeing how hard she worked, she had specially told her to sleep more, but the next day she was still waiting on time.

It was a bit like when she had just started her winter and summer vacations, still maintaining the habit of waking up early naturally as if going to school. Of course, although this feeling was similar, it couldn’t be equated.

Qiu Yi had been serving the original owner for nearly twenty years! This habit formed since childhood had already become ingrained in her bones.

Unexpectedly, today she thought Qiu Yi had rarely slept in, so she didn’t plan to call her, but now how come there wasn’t a shadow of her?

This was too abnormal!!!

“It’s early in the morning, have any of you seen Housekeeper Qiu?” Lu Yuner asked the other servants while sipping porridge with a spoon.

The other servants looked at each other, and one of them respectfully replied, “Housekeeper Qiu left the mansion early in the morning.”

“What! She left early in the morning?” Lu Yuner was obviously startled, putting down her spoon with a crisp “clink” sound, and asked, “Do you know where she went?”

The servant answered honestly, “Housekeeper Qiu didn’t say, but before leaving, she said she was going to prepare a surprise for you.”

“A surprise!?” Lu Yuner raised an eyebrow slightly, her slender white fingers tapping rhythmically on the table, curious, “It’s not a festival or New Year’s, is it? Oh! That’s not right! It’s not my birthday this month either, right? It’s obviously still several months away, isn’t it too early to prepare in advance?”

The servant added, “Housekeeper Qiu didn’t say what the surprise was, but she said you would definitely like it.”

“I will definitely like it? What is Qiu Yi up to? Being so mysterious!” Lu Yuner muttered in confusion, “Well, since it’s a surprise, I won’t ask her. Otherwise, there won’t be any sense of mystery when the time comes. But I’m quite looking forward to seeing what kind of surprise she has prepared.”

The polo match was to be held this afternoon. After finishing breakfast, Lu Yuner, thinking of bringing some delicious food for Juzi, returned to the Imperial College early with two large packages.

Just as Lu Yuner had left, Qiu Yi hurriedly returned to the mansion, tightly clutching several sandalwood boxes as she entered.

As soon as Qiu Yi returned to the mansion, she asked without stopping, “Was there any change in the master’s behavior when she woke up today?”

“The master didn’t look very energetic today, there was a dark shade under her eyes, as if she didn’t sleep well last night. When she was having breakfast just now, she seemed absent-minded, looking as if she had a nightmare.” The servant obediently replied, then added with a puzzled expression, “But the master’s face had a slight blush, sometimes covering her face with both hands, sometimes sighing softly, her expression somewhat complex.”

“What? Like she had a nightmare! Ah! This isn’t right!” Qiu Yi frowned. This was the result of her busy night, spending a fortune to buy the enchanting incense. The seller had said it was made with rare medicinal ingredients, and its effects were absolutely guaranteed, or else she wouldn’t have to pay. That’s why she spent money to buy it.

Wondering if she had been tricked by that fellow, but thinking carefully about the latter part of the servant’s words, could it be that it was used only in the latter half of the night, so the time wasn’t enough? Or was the amount of incense used not enough? Was that why the effect wasn’t obvious?

Qiu Yi put aside her doubts and reminded, “By the way, did the master mention me? And have you carefully checked the things prepared for the master as I instructed?”

The servant replied, “The master did ask about you today, but according to your instructions, the master didn’t ask further when we answered, and finally said she was looking forward to Housekeeper Qiu’s surprise. As for the things prepared for the master, rest assured, Housekeeper Qiu, everything has been checked one by one, nothing is missing, and as per your arrangement, we specially replaced the incense that the master usually carries with the one you prepared in advance.”

Qiu Yi nodded with satisfaction, carefully placing those sandalwood boxes back in the cabinet in her room.

Since the master had a bit of a reaction, it proved that this was indeed a good treasure!

Then she pondered for a moment and instructed, “Since nothing went wrong, I’ll go out again.”

With that, she hurriedly left the mansion again.

Imperial College.

Suddenly, a woman’s abrupt voice rang out from a nearby pavilion, “Oh! Look, you two… Isn’t that the only female doctor from the men’s college of our Imperial College?”

The other two female students in the pavilion put down their textbooks, stood up and looked in the direction the female student was pointing. Another one said, “It really is Doctor Lu! What is she… carrying those two big packages for!?”

Qin Yaxue looked at Lu Yuner in the distance, turned around and sat down, mocking, “Tsk tsk tsk! She’s supposed to be a doctor of the Imperial College, but look at her now, carrying big and small packages, one might think a poor beggar had come to the Imperial College asking for food! To teach by example and be a role model, where’s the demeanor of a teacher in this? No wonder there’s a distinction between noble and humble in status and position, indeed commoners will always be commoners, this is simply vulgar and unbearable!”

Hearing this, the other two female students glanced at each other, their expressions immediately becoming a bit unsightly. Both of their family backgrounds were not as good as Qin Yaxue’s, and her words seemed to be directed at them, making them feel oppressed and upset, but they had no choice but to flatter her in every way.

After all, her mother was the Minister of Rites.

“Hey! Isn’t that Young Master Su?” another female student exclaimed, pointing to the distance.

At the mention of Young Master Su, Qin Yaxue suddenly stood up, staring intently at that elegant and noble figure, quickly tidying up her clothes, then picking up her textbook and walking away.