Duke of Huguo

Lang Huan groaned and slowly pried her eyes open, feeling like they were glued shut. The first thing she saw was a blurry face hovering just inches away.

"AH!" she yelped, jerking back so hard that she nearly headbutted the poor guy.

The figure jumped, looking equally startled. "Young Master! You're awake!"

"Young Master, are you alright?" His voice was soft, but his tone was filled with urgency.

Lang Huan gestured around. "Where's the flat-screen TV? The fridge? My phone?"

A Cai stared blankly. "I… do not understand the words you just said."

Lang Huan looked around her surroundings. The walls were made of wooden panels, and there were intricately carved furniture pieces, like a low wooden table and silk cushions. Lanterns hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow, she laid on large bed with a wooden frame. The air felt cool and still, with the faint scent of incense lingering. The traditional decor and atmosphere made it clear this wasn't a place she recognized.

"Where am I?" Lang Huan stared at the man in confusion, her eyes filled with uncertainty.

A Cai looked at her with a mixture of concern and confusion. "Young Master, you were unconscious when we found you. We are in the Duke's mansion."

Lang Huan's eyes widened. " Who are you?"

A Cai's face softened, and he hesitated for a moment. "You don't recognize me? I've served the Duke of Huguo for many years. But... perhaps the tragedy has affected your memory."

 "Young Master?" Lang Huan asked in surprise. She was clearly a woman, so why were they calling her young master?

"Are you feeling unwell? I am going to invite a physician to check your condition."

Lang Huan shook her head, trying to focus. "No...No.. I... I'm fine."

Lang Huan sat up, staring at A Cai suspiciously, "Do you know who I am?"

A Cai's face twisted in confusion. "Young Master… You're the son of the Duke of Huguo. Ye Langhuan, of course."

Lang Huan froze.

"Wait. Hold on." She pointed at herself. "Ye Langhuan?"

A Cai nodded eagerly.

"Lang Huan's eyes widened in disbelief. How is that possible? Could it really be a coincidence that someone has almost the same name as me?

Lang Huan muttered, "This isn't right."

How could A Cai mistake me for the young master? Unless...

Does my face look the same as that boy's? She wondered. Honestly, she hadn't paid much attention to it before because of the panic. Why does this A Cai think I'm him?

Ahhh...and then she suddenly remembered. She had made the desperate decision to wear the little boy's clothes, thinking it might help her blend in with the style of this place, but now it seemed like she had unintentionally taken on someone else's identity.

Lang Huan flopped back on the bed, groaning. "Oh, fantastic. I've completely ended up in another world."

A Cai looked horrified. "Young Master... you don't remember your own name?"

Lang Huan leaned closer. "I remember my name. I'm just wondering if you do."

A Cai nodded with conviction. Maybe this was due to the effects of trauma—after all, the young master was still a child. Even an adult could hardly bear the disaster she had experienced, A Cai thought to himself.

Taking a deep breath, Lang Huan decided to play along—for now. "Something's wrong with my head... I don't remember things clearly. I think I've lost my memory." Lang Huan smiled bitterly.

"Do you remember why you were in the forest? A Cai hesitated, unsure if he should ask. He feared something terrible had happened that left the young master in this state.

Lang Huan shook her head. "I only remember a man with a sword... and then everything went dark," she murmured, her voice weak.

"A sword... that must be the man who attacked you. But what about Madam? The fire... it happened so suddenly. You were with her, weren't you?"

"Madam? You mean my mother?" Lang Huan asked, pretending to forget, her voice trembling slightly as if she were struggling to recall any memory.

"I don't remember anything... I can't remember what happened to my mother, or why I was in the forest..." Her words trailed off, as though the fog in her mind was too thick to cut through.

A Cai nodded slowly, "Just rest for now, and we can sort everything out later. You are safe here"

 "Did you see something with me when I was found?"

"Oh," A Cai said, retrieving the bag and handing it to the young master. "Is this it, Young Master? We found it with you."

The Duke of Huguo burst into the room and pulled Lang Huan into a bear hug so tight she felt her spine rearrange itself. His embrace was warm—comforting, even—but the sheer force of it left her gasping for air.

"I c-can't…breathe—" Lang Huan wheezed, flailing weakly like a fish on land.

The old man finally released her, holding her at arm's length and scanning her face intently, completely oblivious to the fact that his "son" was one second away from passing out.

"I thought I lost you!" he said in a trembling voice.

You almost did, Lang Huan rolled her eye, resisting the urge to collapse onto bed.

My son..." The Duke of Huguo whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "You've returned to me. Thank God." He turned his gaze to A Cai, then to Lang Huan, his eyes filled with both relief and concern. "What happened? Why were you in the forest? A Cai told me you were in the middle of the fire."

A Cai quickly explained what he knew, recounting how Lang Huan had been found unconscious at the forest, the fire still burning there. He spoke of the search efforts, the confusion over the young master's condition, and how they had brought him back to the residence. He listened carefully, nodding intermittently, his face softening as he heard the tale.

"Father, I...I don't remember," Lang Huan started, but her voice faltered. She looked into the man's concerned eyes.

The Duke's expression hardened with worry, but he quickly masked it with a forced smile. "I understand, son. You've been through much."

She had no idea who the Duke of Huguo was, this wasn't her home. She wasn't Ye Langhuan, but she could not explain that.

"Father!" Lang Huan called out hesitantly, handing him the letter left by the woman. "I found this in cloth bag"

The Duke of Huguo took the letter, his brow furrowing as he glanced at it. "What is this?" He unfolded it. Lang Huan couldn't help but notice the way his hands shook just slightly, his usual composure slipping for a moment.

"Well, uh, about that letter…" Lang Huan said, trying to hide her curiosity, "I think it's, uh, important?"

The Duke of Huguo's face darkened as he carefully folded the letter and did not answer Lang Huan. The letter revealed that his wife was a spy from the Yan Kingdom. If the emperor found out, the entire Ye clan would be sentenced to death. He reached for the candle on the table and held the letter over the flame.

A beautiful young lady entered the room, moving with the kind of grace that could make flowers jealous. Lang Huan's gaze locked onto her instantly. Wow… She couldn't be older than sixteen or seventeen, her skin as fair as porcelain and her features as delicate as a painting.

"Second Madam," A Cai greeted respectfully, bowing his head. She realized that this woman was her father's concubine.

A faint displeasure stirred within her. How could that old man marry someone three times younger than himself? She felt disgusted.

The Second Madam turned her gentle gaze toward Lang Huan, her expression softening with concern. "Huan'er, I'm relieved to see you awake." She said in a melodic voice.

"Mother…" Lang Huan gasped dramatically, her voice cracking perfectly like the lead in a tragic play.

Before Su Qing could react, Lang Huan dove forward, embracing her tightly, practically burying her face in Su Qing's shoulder.

"Mother, I—wuwu—I thought I'd never see you again!" Lang Huan wailed, adding an extra sniffle for flair. She made sure to grip Su Qing's sleeve with just the right amount of desperation.

Su Qing froze, awkwardly patting Lang Huan's back. "Ah… Huan'er, I'm here."

Duke of Huguo, standing nearby, nearly choked on his own breath. His son had always treated Su Qing poorly and dislike her. Did she hit her brain that hard? Though puzzled, the Duke of Huguo felt a twinge of relief.

Meanwhile, Lang Huan kept sobbing dramatically into Su Qing's shoulder, sneaking glances at the Duke of Huguo from the corner of her eye. At a time like this, the best strategy is to play half remember-half amnesiac, she thought smugly. They said kids have pure hearts and minds, right? So they'll believe me. They have to believe me.

Su Qing felt warmth in her heart when Lang Huan called her 'Mother.' Their relationship had always been distant and cold, so this sudden change surprised her. 

"Su Qing," Duke of Huguo finally said, breaking the moment, "Take care of her. She needs rest and comfort after what she's been through," Su Qing nodded.

The Duke of Huguo turned to leave, but paused at the door, looking back at his son. "I'll do whatever it takes to protect you, Huan'er. Remember that. You are the future of the Ye clan.

Lang Huan stared at her father's back, blinking in disbelief. The future of the Ye clan? she thought, a bit overwhelmed. I'm just a girl from another world who doesn't even know how to ride a horse without falling off!

The Duke's mansion was cloaked in an almost eerie stillness, the only sounds being the faint rustle of leaves in the garden and the distant chirp of crickets. Warm lanterns flickered softly in the corridors, their golden light casting long shadows against the stone walls. Outside, the night sky shimmered with stars, a serene contrast to the mansion's quiet.

The commander knelt before Duke of Huguo, "Report! My Lord, we can't find Madam. The search party combed the forest thoroughly, but it is vast, and most of it has been reduced to ashes by the fire. We found no trace of her." His words hung heavily in the air, deepening the somber atmosphere in the room.

Duke of Huguo needed confirmation of her death. Without proof, there was always the risk that someone might uncover her secret and link it to the Ye family. The emperor was ruthless in his judgment of treason, and the entire Ye clan could be wiped out if the truth surfaced.

He closed his eyes, his jaw tightening as he absorbed the news. Though he had prepared himself for this possibility, "Retreat and call off the search. Make sure no one speaks of this further."

These days, A Cai was practically glued to Lang Huan's side, fluttering around like an overprotective nanny. The more she listened, the more the truth became undeniable: this wasn't just a different time, this was an entirely different world.

She learned that this place was called the Great Qi Dynasty. The emperor's name? Never heard of him. The government? Weirdly complicated. And the writing style? forget it—she was illiterate here, and it looked like she'd need to hit the books all over again. Maybe this is just a lost dynasty no one bothered to record or existed in an alternate timeline and dimension.

This strange place had a scorching climate, and Lang Huan often found herself feeling unbearably hot. It was like living inside a sauna where even the air had no respect for personal space.

"A Cai, let's go. I want to see the outside," Lang Huan said, her voice filled with excitement.

"Uhh, it's hot..." Lang Huan muttered, watching A Cai fanned her diligently like she was some fragile noble. It might be that Lang Huan's body temperature was higher than the locals.

Lang Huan glanced at A Cai, narrowing her eyes at the thin mustache curling just above his lips. "A Cai, you're still so young. Why do you have a mustache like an old man?"

A Cai chuckled, brushing his fingers over the sparse hair proudly. "This is the trend here, young master. All the men grow mustaches and beards to appear powerful and authoritative. Look, every man here has facial hair."

Lang Huan's gaze drifted across the bustling street. Sure enough, every man she saw — from scholars to guards — sported some form of facial hair. Some had wispy strands barely clinging to their chins, while others paraded thick, flowing beards like sages from ancient paintings.

What a strange trend... she thought, resisting the urge to laugh. How could young men grow long beards like that? Is this really their standard of handsomeness?

Lang Huan stroked her own chin instinctively, feeling nothing but smooth skin.

"Young Master, A Cai feels that several suspicious people are following and watching us. It's best if we head back..." A Cai's voice was urgent, his eyes scanning the crowd as he subtly tugged at Lang Huan's sleeve.

"Eh, slow down!" Lang Huan protested, trying to keep pace as A Cai pulled her away hastily. Despite her frustration, she didn't resist. The excitement of exploring the outside world quickly faded, replaced by a growing sense of unease.

As Lang Huan walked through the courtyards, she noticed Su Qing sitting under the shade of a willow tree, completely absorbed in a book. Su Qing was known as one of the most talented women in the Great Qi Dynasty, admired for her intelligence and skills. She had been given to the Duke of Huguo by the Emperor as a reward for his victory in battle.

Lang Huan watched her for a moment before a sudden realization hit her—she couldn't even read or write! All the time she had spent trying to learn seemed like a waste. She had to do something about it. It would be so embarrassing if someone tried to pull a fast one on her because she didn't know what was written on a piece of paper.

"Mother..." Lang Huan called out, trying to sound casual, though she was feeling a little nervous.

Su Qing looked up, her gentle eyes meeting Lang Huan's as she closed her book with a soft rustle. She reached out and gently patted Lang Huan's head, a comforting gesture. "Are you bored?" she asked, her voice tender and calm.

"Not really..... uh, any chance you could teach me how to read and write? I've lost my previous skills because of amnesia," Lang Huan replied earnestly.

Su Qing's eyes twinkled with amusement as she pulled out a scroll of paper and a brush. "We'll start simple. How about writing your name? It's a good way to warm up the brain."

Lang Huan raised an eyebrow. "Writing my name? Seems a bit basic for a genius, don't you think?"

Su Qing smirked. " Consider it a warm-up."

With a reluctant but playful sigh, Lang Huan picked up the brush and began to write, determined to prove she was still the "genius" she claimed to be.

---

In the study room, a graceful lady sat with poised elegance, her delicate hand guiding the brush across the parchment. She exuded an air of refinement, her every movement carrying an effortless grace. Her long, black hair was neatly tied with an ornate jade hairpin, allowing a few soft strands to frame her fair, serene face. Her almond-shaped eyes, sharp and perceptive, were focused intently on the calligraphy before her, each stroke revealing her mastery of the art. The faint scent of ink mixed with the light aroma of rose lingering in the air.

Feng Yao, the Eldest Princess of the Great Qi Dynasty, was a well-known figure. Crowned at the age of ten, she was granted the title of Princess Zhao Yi. As she grew older and became more involved in court affairs, her influence quickly grew, and she rose to prominence.

Now, at 19, Feng Yao was renowned for her unparalleled talent. More than just a graceful woman, she was a formidable force in politics. Her sharp intellect and decisive nature earned both respect and fear from nobles and commoners alike.

"Good luck to Your Highness Eldest Princess. May Your Highness live a thousand year."

"Just speak..."

The atmosphere in the study room grew tense as Feng Yao's cold voice sliced through the silence. A man knelt before her, his forehead almost grazing the floor. Sweat dripped down his temples, but he didn't dare to raise his head.

"Report, Your Highness," the man stammered, his voice shaking with fear. "I have failed. I deserve punishment. The boy... she didn't die, and... and she's back at the Duke's mansion."

He could feel Feng Yao's gaze piercing through him, as cold and sharp as a blade. The faint rustle of her silk skirt as she shifted in her seat made his heart pound even harder.

After what felt like an eternity, Feng Yao finally spoke, her tone unreadable. "Leave"

The man bowed deeply, retreating as quickly as he could, his back soaked with cold sweat. As he disappeared through the door, the beautiful princess's expression darkened, her eyes narrowing.

"A Li," Feng Yao called softly.

The maid, who had been standing silently in the shadows of the chamber, stepped forward and bowed. "Does Your Highness wish to get rid of him?"

"He has failed." She said, her expression unreadable. "Give him what he deserves."

A Li lowered her head. "Understood, Your Highness."

Feng Yao didn't lift her gaze from the calligraphy scroll she was meticulously working on. Her brush glided across the paper, each stroke fluid and precise.

Feng Yao received information from her informant that the wife of Duke of Huguo was a spy from the Yan Kingdom. To further her plans, she knew she had to eliminate her. All this time, Feng Yao had strategically placed many pawns to expand her influence and power.

The Duke of Huguo was still a huge asset to the Great Qi. His skills as a military commander were top-notch, and his victories on the battlefield made him essential. Plus, he had control over the Dragon Stallion Army, one of the strongest military forces around. With that kind of power, even the royal family had to be careful when dealing with him.

"A Li ensure our eyes remain on the Duke's mansion. If the winds shift, I want to know before anyone does."