The moon climbed to the zenith, and within the pleasure house, tender affections intertwined, accompanied by the sweet, melodious sounds of songbirds.
A guard clad in black martial attire carried a set of clothes into the building, emerging half a moment later with a flushed face.
Yuan Jing leaned against the corner of the wall, holding his sword, and raised an eyebrow at him with a teasing smile. “Chang Feng, were you teased by some young lady?”
It would have been better not to ask—the question immediately brought to Chang Feng’s mind the scenes of unrestrained springtime splendor he had witnessed along the way.
Amitabha Buddha, the young master truly intended to stay the night at Fragrant Pavilion tonight!
He shot Yuan Jing an annoyed glare. “I delivered the change of clothes. You go report to Old Madam and Madam.”
Today, the mansion had hosted a Hundred Flowers Banquet, with noble ladies from several prominent families in the capital attending. During the feast, they recited poetry, painted, played the zither, and brewed tea, showcasing their many talents.
However, none of those whom Old Madam and Madam had praised so highly caught their master’s eye.
After the banquet ended, the one who should have returned to his chambers to rest instead turned his steps and left the mansion, heading straight for this place.
Old Madam and Madam must have already received word. Did they still need to report?
Was this reporting or inviting punishment?
The teasing smile on Yuan Jing’s lips instantly froze. Each day in this job seemed to shorten his lifespan by another month.
What a sin!
Upstairs in the boudoir, Su Tan was also inwardly exclaiming, “What a sin!”
After bathing, Grand Commandant Shen, dressed in moon-white sleeping robes, reclined lazily in a rosewood armchair carved with crabapple patterns.
With that bewitchingly handsome face of his, he idly fiddled with the items she had arranged on the table.
Standing behind him, Su Tan held a towel as she carefully dried his hair, her mind quietly pondering.
What exactly did Shen Xiuwang intend by staying the night so suddenly? The way he had looked at her earlier was far from innocent.
She had thought she wouldn’t be able to avoid it on the night of her debut, but he hadn’t intended to touch her at all. So why did he want to now, on this final night?
His emotions were unreadable, truly without any discernible logic.
The young lady pursed her lips silently. If he insisted on that later, what would be the consequences if she resisted to the death?
Would the promised Commoner Status and freedom be lost?
Su Tan raised her eyes to look at the man reflected in the bronze mirror—his bone structure was exquisite, his appearance top-tier, flawless in every way.
One man, or a crowd of men—it was the simplest of choices.
In this world, not all efforts yield results. Opportunities are fleeting, and if you don’t seize them, there truly is no way out.
Just as she was lost in thought, the long hair she was drying slipped forward from her grasp.
Shen Xiuwang leaned over, picked up the little turtle from the ceramic basin, examined it for a moment, and then turned to her with amused interest. “You keep this?”
The little brown turtle, frightened, withdrew into its shell, not daring to peek out—pitiful and timid.
Su Tan’s heart ached, but she didn’t dare snatch it back directly. She forced a stiff smile and replied, “Mm.”
“How unusual. Other young ladies prefer keeping cats, dogs, or birds.” Shen Xiuwang said with a half-smile. “But you, you keep a turtle.”
Hidden in its shell, Kuai Kuai grumbled inwardly: You’re the turtle! I’m a little turtle!
Su Tan explained softly, helplessly, “I’m afraid I’ve made a fool of myself in front of the Military Governor. Such delicate creatures aren’t suited for this place, and I couldn’t afford them anyway.”
She struggled just to keep herself alive. This little turtle was one she had bought from the kitchen hands two years ago.
Turtles live long lives and are easy to care for—at least it would likely outlive her.
So, for now, they would muddle through and keep each other company.
Hoping to free Kuai Kuai from Grand Commandant Shen’s grasp as soon as possible, Su Tan turned to brew tea for him after answering.
The young lady’s quiet, indifferent words, however, dampened Shen Xiuwang’s interest. He glanced around the room—it was truly too small, making even turning around a struggle.
The servants’ quarters in the mansion were more spacious than this place. How long had she been confined in here?
Truly pitiful.
Just as pitiful as this little turtle in hand.
Military Governor Shen curled his lip and tossed the small turtle back into the clay basin. After wiping his hands clean, his gaze fell upon the vermilion porcelain vial on the lacquered tea table.
Su Tan finished brewing a cup of tea and turned around, holding the teacup. Her hands trembled slightly, and her gaze froze.
“Military Governor, that vial must not be sniffed…”
Inside the vermilion porcelain vial was a secret medicine given to her by Mama Yue yesterday—an aphrodisiac extracted from several types of passion flowers.
At the time, Mama Yue grinned with her blood-red lips, laughing lewdly: “Mei Wu, this is truly a good thing. You only need to apply a drop behind your neck, and I guarantee the Military Governor will be unable to control himself once he catches a whiff.”
“Be sensible. If you can cling to Military Governor Shen, this great Buddha, for the long term, why would I still force you to entertain other guests?”
Su Tan had accepted it back then with no intention of using it, casually tossing it aside.
After all, no one else entered her room. Who knew it would now truly be “put to good use”…
Shen Xiuwang held the small porcelain vial, gently shaking his wrist.
He clearly guessed from the girl’s flustered expression what was inside, yet he still feigned ignorance, asking: “Why mustn’t it be sniffed? Is it poisonous?”
His question was serious, but his eyes held a hint of frivolity and teasing.
Su Tan felt she truly couldn’t outwit this man.
She steadied herself, approached him with the teacup, gently placed it before him, and said softly: “It’s not poisonous, only that I fear it might harm the Military Governor’s health.”
“As you know, I am a girl from the brothel. It’s merely a means to captivate patrons.”
The girl’s graceful and alluring figure was right before his eyes, her fair wrists like frost, her jade-like skin pure and cool.
Yet she spoke of captivating patrons, words that sounded truly displeasing.
Shen Xiuwang’s eyes darkened slightly as he looked up at her, the corner of his lips curling: “Then let me see how you captivate.”
Su Tan’s motion of offering the tea paused, their eyes meeting.
Their gazes intertwined, heat spreading, as if sparks crackled and ignited around them.
He wanted to sleep with her—four words that were glaringly obvious.
The arrow was on the bowstring, ready to be released. The girl’s pink lips parted slightly, but before she could speak—
Her waist tightened, a powerful arm encircling her, a forceful pull seating her steadily.
Beneath the flesh of her buttocks were his firm, taut thighs.
Su Tan’s body trembled slightly, her hands resting on his shoulders. “My lord.”
Two tender, melodious words, as if soaked in honey.
To Shen Xiuwang’s ears, they were undoubtedly a fatal temptation.
Not only did the girl’s voice carry a watery softness, but her eyes were also misty and hazy.
The man’s prominent Adam’s apple involuntarily bobbed, his tongue sweeping over his molars.
His large palm pressed against the small of her back, kneading slowly and gently, again and again.
His unrestrained, profound gaze slowly shifted from her brows and eyes to her delicate, charming nose, then down to those plump, sweet, and soft lips.
The man’s long eyelashes cast a shadow over his straight nose bridge, utterly bewitching.
He was waiting for her initiative, like a hunter patiently awaiting his prey.
Su Tan’s body softened into a heap, yet her mind remained exceptionally clear.
Her hands, resting on Shen Xiuwang’s shoulders, shifted to encircle his neck. She tilted her head slightly, made up her mind, and actively pressed her lips against the man’s thin ones.
Their noses brushed, dry wood meeting fierce flames, and heated breaths rose in response.
The large hand encircling her waist wandered freely over the girl’s slender back. Shen Xiuwang leaned forward, his deep kiss aggressive, finally pressing her against the table.
Warm fragrance filled his embrace, and the obstructive outer garment was shed.
Then the inner robe, the undergarment…
Grand Commandant Shen was momentarily stunned by the sight of the jade-like mounds and crimson plum blossoms before him, his eyes tinged with red at the corners. He stared for several long seconds before daring to lay his hand upon her and lower his head.
What reason remained?
Su Tan’s lower back pressed against the edge of the long table, the wooden grain shifting from cool to warm beneath her.
Her neck arched slightly backward, her left hand gripping the nape of his neck, her right braced against the table’s surface.
A feigned resistance, yet yielding.
The neatly arranged bottles and jars on the table were thrown into disarray, clinking together crisply.
“My lord.”
Those two words again, truly stirring an itch in one’s heart.
Unbearable.
Shen Xiuwang cupped her buttocks with one hand, lifted the girl effortlessly, and strode toward the bed.
Silken garments scattered across the floor, crimson bed curtains drawn closed.
Veins bulged on Shen Xiuwang’s forehead as his warm hands caressed her. Every inch of the body beneath his palms was as tender as fresh tofu.
He was not a man driven by desire, nor did he indulge in romantic affairs.
Looking was one thing, touching another—always clearly distinct.
He had once boasted of passing through a sea of flowers without a single petal clinging to him.
But with her, he inexplicably felt a possessive, plundering urge.
What flavor did this most exquisite fruit truly hold?
Though it was spring, the air inside the curtains grew stiflingly hot, without a breath of wind.
Su Tan lay on her back, chest heaving violently, crimson clouds spreading across both cheeks, the initiative entirely out of her hands.
Shen Xiuwang spoke of wanting to learn her skills in charming patrons, yet in practice, he was overwhelmingly domineering.
The Underpants were finally discarded, leaving both fully exposed.
A scorching kiss descended once more, poised and ready.
Suddenly, urgent knocking sounded at the door: “Master, His Majesty summons you immediately!”