Smiling Under Lanter Chapter 430 - 158 Lover’s Incense

Chapter 430: Chapter 158 Lover’s Incense

The carriage made its way through the streets and alleys of Shengjing.

Lu Tong and Pei Yunng sat facing each other.

Considering that their outing that day should not draw attention, Pei Yunng had chosen the most ordinary carriage they could find. As such, the interior wasn’t spacious, and with both of them sitting, they were quite close to each other.

With a glance upward, Lu Tong could see the person opposite her.

Today, taking a break from duty, she was not wearing her usual crimson official uniform but a pear blossom white round-necked brocade robe with narrow sleeves. Her waist was cinched with a green jade belt, presenting a clean and neat appearance. Her high bun of hair hung down to her shoulders, and even with her aloof expression, she still exuded an exquisite allure.

Lin Danqing had said that in selection of the guards for the Palace Front Office, not only were martial abilities evaluated, but also appearance and stature. Lu Tong thought to herself that maybe Pei Yunng’s rise to the position of Commander of the Palace Front Office at such a young age wasn’t solely due to his relationship with Lord Zhao Ning, Pei Di.

Perhaps it was because of his face.

As she wickedly thought this, Pei Yunng noticed her gaze, lifted his eyes to look at her, and couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows.

He asked, "What is Doctor Lu looking at

for?"

Lu Tong shifted her gaze away, "I was just wondering how much longer it will be until we reach the tea garden."

To go to Tuoluo Mountain required leaving the city, and it was a long journey. Coming and going, they would likely return by evening.

He smiled, "It’s still early. The mountain roads are rough; Doctor Lu can take a nap in the carriage first, and I will wake you when we arrive."

The offer did seem considerate.

Lu Tong thought it made sense—while she wouldn’t really sleep, it seed a good idea to rest with her eyes closed during the long carriage ride, so she closed her eyes.

Yet just as she did, the carriage passed through a narrow lane, the uneven dirt road jostled the vehicle, and a child ran towards it from the front. Qingfeng hurriedly pulled the reins to avoid collision, causing a great commotion, and the carriage was jerked to one side. Lu Tong, caught off guard, leaned forward precipitously.

With a long shout of "Yū—"

Lu Tong’s head collided with a soft, warm chest.

The clothing there was warm and fragrant, yet the chest beneath was hard, like a thin layer of armor poking painfully.

A faint fragrance of orchid and musk enveloped her.

She looked up to et Pei Yunng’s dark eyes.

The young man’s hand was supporting her arm, seemingly a reflexive reaction to her tumble. He looked sowhat surprised, gazing down at her with furrowed brows and asking, "Are you alright?"

His eyes were beautiful, but their brilliance and darkness sotis made it difficult for others to discern his true emotions. However, at that mont, there was no mockery, no alienation or coldness. His gaze was full of concern, resembling the shimring spring water beneath Luoyue Bridge, warm and gentle, compellingly profound.

Outside the window, Qingfeng’s voice could be heard, "Master, soone just passed by."

Lu Tong suddenly regained her composure, straightened up, and heard Pei Yunng say, "It’s alright, let’s go."

The carriage resud its journey.

The atmosphere inside the carriage took on an odd subtlety.

To dispel this strange feeling, Lu Tong took the initiative to speak, "Lord Pei."

"What is it?"

"Could I take a look at your fragrance pouch?"

His response was of genuine surprise as if he hadn’t expected her to suddenly make such a request.

Nonetheless, he soon smiled, unfastened the pouch hanging from his waist, and handed it to her.

Lu Tong reached out and took it.

It was a white jade lotus-pattern sachet, exquisitely carved. Bringing it close, a gentle yet fragrant dicinal scent imdiately wafted from within.

Lu Tong felt a stirring in her heart.

Ever since their encounter at Wan’en Temple, Lu Tong had noticed the fragrance on him.

People of the ti loved to carry fragrance pouches, n included. Unlike Du Changqing’s scent that was so thick it seed marinated, the fragrance on Pei Yunng’s person was subtle, barely there, yet fresh and crisp.

Accompanying Lady Yun in the mountains to concoct dicines, Lady Yun also made incense. Lu Tong could usually identify the components simply by slling them. But Pei Yunng’s scent was different; at first whiff, it seed like orchid musk, but upon closer thought, it was not quite the sa. When she had fallen just then, and Pei Yunng reached out to help, Lu Tong had again slled that faint aroma.

It seed to contain other spices or dicinal herbs, ntally calming and far superior to Qi Yutai’s Lover’s Incense.

Such a fragrance pouch must have been specially blended for Pei Yunng. Unable to discern every single ingredient, she decided it would be more straightforward to ask Pei Yunng himself.

With this in mind, Lu Tong asked, "Lord Pei, your fragrance pouch is unlike the common incense sold in the markets. It seems to be specially prepared. Could you give

a copy of the recipe?"

She had suffered from insomnia for years, which was sowhat manageable during her ti at Benevolent Heart dical Hall but since moving to the Hanlin dical Institute, she often couldn’t sleep until late into the night.

She had concocted nurous dicines to help her sleep, but after using too many drugs at Luoi Peak in previous years, ordinary dications no longer had much effect on her body. However, every ti she slled the fragrance on Pei Yunng, it imdiately cald her mind. Having so of the ingredients might help her sleep better at night.