That day, the clouds cleared and the rain ceased, leaving a clear sky and boundless sunshine.
Inside the imperial palace, embroidered robes followed closely upon one another, and fragrant silks drifted through the air.
Outside the Hall of Compassion and Tranquility, sandalwood smoke curled and billowed upward.
Abbot Huiru, together with the assembly of participating monks, chanted sutras and held spells, the sounds of Sanskrit unceasing as they resonated throughout the entire grand hall.
The imperial concubines and various princes knelt successively before the altar, silently praying for the Empress Dowager’s sound health.
An hour later, all rituals concluded, and the assembly slowly rose to their feet. Not a single person dared to complain of fatigue as they gradually and successively departed.
Seeing his opportunity, Puding stepped forward to intercept Xie Qilian, offering a salutation with folded hands: “I pay my respects to the Ninth Highness. Would it be convenient for Your Highness to converse with this poor monk for a moment?”
Xie Qilian turned his head abruptly, finding this monk looking rather familiar: “How is it that this master looks somewhat familiar as though we’ve met somewhere before?”
Puding offered an embarrassed smile: “I am originally the heir of the An’guo Estate, and my secular name is An Huisheng.”
“Oh, so it turns out to be you!” Xie Qilian raised an eyebrow. He retained a distinct impression of the An Estate Heir, having frequently heard Xie Qingyi mention him during their childhood years.
Xie Qilian cupped his hands in a salute: “I wonder… what pressing matter brings the Dharma Master to seek me out?”
“Replying to Your Highness, this matter is of vital importance, and this place is rather inconvenient for discussion.”
“Follow me,” he signaled with a hand.
Inside the grand hall, golden beams and towers gleamed, and the eaves and walls were all adorned with colorful powdered paintings. A faint gardenia fragrance permeated the air.
Sweeping a glance behind him, Puding retrieved the goose-yellow jade pendant from his bosom and extended it forward: “Please take a look, Your Highness.”
Concentrating his gaze and narrowing his eyes for a closer look, Xie Qilian felt his pupils shrink abruptly: “Where did you acquire this jade?”
Puding recounted the entire sequence of events from beginning to end without omitting a single detail.
From his words, Xie Qilian perceived that Puding was still unaware of the true identity of the person who had given it to him. Since he still did not know that Xiaobai was King Han, there was no need to speak too much with him on that matter.
“You must keep this matter strictly confidential, otherwise it may invite disaster from your words and implicate yourself.”
Puding joined his hands together: “This poor monk will keep it firmly in mind, and hopes Your Highness can rest entirely assured.”
Xishan Zen Temple.
Night fell like spilled black ink, staining the surroundings with a heavy layer of alluring seductiveness, casting even the Buddha statue in an ambiguous glow.
The door of the monastic room stood slightly ajar as Xiaobai slipped inside carrying a bundle.
“These medicinal herbs are enough for you to soak in for the past two days. After using them once, you can reuse them for another round, and thereafter you must soak every single night.”
Puding opened the bundle to reveal ingredients such as Cistanche deserticola, Horny Goat Weed, Eucommia ulmoides, and oysters within.
Gazing at these medicinal herbs, his cheeks involuntarily flushed with a rosy hue: “Thank you! Xiaobai.”
“Think nothing of it, I am merely repaying a favor,” Xiaobai stated expressionlessly.
Hearing his slightly chilled tone, Puding eased the atmosphere: “Er… then this poor monk shall head over to the adjacent bathhouse…”
Xiaobai said nonchalantly, “There is no need for that; a tub bath offers superior therapeutic efficacy.”
“But…” Puding wore a hesitant expression.
Observing his demeanor, Xiaobai couldn’t help a smile welling up in his heart he truly was a massive handful of trouble.
“You and I are both men; what is there to feel self-conscious about?”
An hour later, Puding sat quietly inside the wooden tub. Concentrating his mind and calming his spirit, light beads of perspiration broke out across his brow due to the rising steam.
“How is it? Are you experiencing any discomfort?” Lowering his head slightly, Xiaobai asked with concern.
“Mhm, it’s alright.” Half-closing his eyes, Puding refrained from opening them.
Wisps of white vapor drifted ethereally, while the water surface reflected the candlelight like misty gauze.
He resembled a deity standing tall upon ethereal, shifting waves.
The hazy water mist lightly veiled the scars across his body, making them virtually imperceptible unless one inspected closely.
An expanse of stark whiteness crashed into the man’s pupils.
Puding’s head shifted slightly before he suddenly emitted a murmur: “Hot, so hot…”
Hearing this, Xiaobai raised an eyebrow hm? What’s going on?
Stepping down from the luohan couch, he walked closer and saw that Puding’s complexion was flushed a brilliant red, resembling an early spring flower bud tender, alluring, and glossy.
Collecting his thoughts, Xiaobai supported his chin with one hand and fell into deep contemplation. These medicinal herbs were all thermally potent substances; could it be…
His body was temporarily unable to endure them, causing the heated blood to rush upward to his head?
What was to be done about this?
“Monk, get up first; stop soaking for now.”
Yet Puding acted as though he hadn’t heard a thing, offering no reaction whatsoever.
Xiaobai reached out intending to touch him lightly, yet remained uncertain of where exactly he ought to make contact regardless of where he touched, he would inevitably come into skin-to-skin contact.
He certainly couldn’t just pat him on the head!
With no time to ponder further, he casually patted the back of Puding’s neck, only to find it felt akin to touching a hot iron skillet exceedingly scalding.
His fingertips shrank back instantly.
If he didn’t get up soon, he was going to experience a nosebleed!
The next instant, a red stream welled up from Puding’s nose. Reaching out to wipe it in a hazy daze, he muttered: “What is this, what is this…?”
“It’s your nosebleed! Hurry up and get up!” Grabbing Puding firmly by the upper arm, Xiaobai hauled him upward.
Lacking all strength, Puding tipped forward directly against Xiaobai’s body, crashing squarely into his embrace.
“Ugh…” Xiaobai emitted a muffled grunt as his chin collided against Puding’s forehead.
A small red bump gradually swelled upon Puding’s brow, though he felt no pain.
“Wake up, did you get heated out of your mind?”
Feeling utterly dizzy, Puding leaned against Xiaobai’s embrace with his head resting right against his collarbone, letting out whimpering sounds from his throat.
Leaning against him was one thing, but his head kept shifting back and forth as well.
The strands of dark hair brushing across his chest grazed against the tip of his nose like a smooth strip of satin.
Xiaobai grew somewhat irritated: You monk, the moment your illness acts up, you start making mischief!
And to think he claimed to be pure-hearted and free of desires; in his view, the depths of your heart probably… Xiaobai speculated inwardly.
Seeing that he still refused to behave, he struck the back of his neck with a single chop of his palm.
Assisting Puding onto the luohan couch, Xiaobai raised his eyes to gaze at his emaciated yet refined features why do I find myself looking at you and seeing a resemblance to the An Estate Heir more and more?
Gazing at him tenderly as if admiring a work of art.
He vowed to question him thoroughly once he woke up.
The charcoal fire inside the room burned with vibrant vigor, and the white mist within the wooden tub gradually dissipated, leaving only a pool of tranquil, clear water resting lonely and desolate within the basin, intermingling with an indescribable aura.
Tonight’s moonlight appeared exceptionally cold and austere, casting a chill across Xiaobai’s brows and eyes, rendering him sacred and unprofane.
He let out a solitary, mocking scoff to himself: This monk is truly a handful to look after. Lying down sideways with the corners of his lips curving upward in a smile, even the night sky turned tender.
At the Chou hour, Xiaobai vaguely caught the sound of rustling movements. Narrowing his eyes with heightened vigilance, he felt that Puding was acting rather strange, tossing and turning about.
Damn monk, it’s so late and instead of sleeping properly, what kind of nonsense are you pulling!
Lifting his head to look, he saw him hunched over in a tight curl, wriggling uncomfortably in distress.
Xiaobai bolted upright: “What, what’s wrong with you? Where does it hurt?”
“So… so uncomfortable!”
“Where does it hurt?” Pushing closer to him, Xiaobai felt his warm breath rushing straight toward his face.
Puding offered no response.
“Speak!” Xiaobai repeated.
At that moment, glancing sideways at his body and seeing his hands resting by his sides, he slowly slid his arms away.
The next instant, Xiaobai’s pupils dilated abruptly, feeling as though he had been struck by a bolt from the blue. Every pore across his entire body expanded as a fierce jolt stabbed through his heart.
How could this be… could it be that the residual body heat hasn’t dissipated? Has it all gathered in one single place?
“Monk, you’ll simply have to endure it; bear with it and it will pass!”
Burning with shame and mortification, Puding muttered, “What on earth kind of medicine did you prescribe for me? How can it make someone suffer this terribly?”
At a complete loss for what to do, Xiaobai stammered, “M-Maybe the dosage was too strong; I didn’t realize your body couldn’t endure it the dosage must be cut in half next time.”
Pondering silently, even if the medicinal potency was excessive, it shouldn’t still be reacting at this hour. Given that you haven’t raised your pillar in years, how could it react like this on the very first try?
Giving it some thought, he hurriedly reached out to check his pulse.
This pulse clearly indicated a discordance between heart and kidneys, characteristic of obsessive daydreaming and waking pining.
You monk are truly not as pure as you appear on the surface, which is why the inner fire surged downward.
“You cannot blame me; you must examine your own heart!” Xiaobai puckered his lips.
That night, Puding persevered through excruciating endurance…
Exceedingly prolonged, as though an entire spring and autumn had passed.
The Seven Kills Gate.
The Young Master expressed immense satisfaction with Fenxin’s operation this time, and seeing him return safely and soundly without physical harm, he specially summoned him in person.
The Seven Kills Gate maintained an unusual rule: when granting audience to the Young Master, anyone within the sect had to wear a mask—on one hand to protect oneself, and on the other because the Young Master was unwilling to reveal his true face.
Fenxin wore a dark-iron mask that exposed only the area beneath the tip of his nose.
A man adorned with a yaksha-fang mask sat upright upon the throne, his voice crisp and clear: “Fenxin, congratulations on your safe return. From this day forward, you are the Head of the Seven Kills.”
“Hereafter, all members of the Seven Kills Gate may be dispatched by you and take orders from you.” The Young Master produced a black token.
Accepting the token, Fenxin dropped to one knee and cupped his fists: “Many thanks for the Young Master’s generous favor; this time I merely cheated death and survived.”
The Young Master threw his head back and laughed loudly: “That is also because your fate was not meant to end. Therefore, properly fulfill your role as the Head of the Seven Kills and pledge your allegiance to our Seven Kills Gate.”
Fenxin thought to himself secretly that with this black token, he could mobilize the top assassins within the sect for his own use, allowing him to slay that dog eunuch one day, while the dog emperor could be plotted against at leisure.
Vengeance was within arm’s reach; he now simply awaited an opportune moment.
Bowing respectfully in withdrawal, Fenxin returned to his bedchamber. Chiyu knocked and entered with a radiant smile upon her face: “Fenxin, congratulations on gaining the Young Master’s heavy trust and favor.”
He sneered inwardly: “Merely a pawn in his hands.”
Chiyu sighed: “Both you and I are constrained by circumstances; in this turbulent world, how many people can truly remain aloof and preserve themselves?”
“Simply keeping one’s little life intact is already no easy feat.”
Lifting his gaze to survey the sky, Fenxin watched the brilliant, blazing sun as the patch of illumination before his eyes gradually grew bright.
Just thinking of his deceased mother brought a steady sense of calm to his heart.
“Very well, I wish to rest, you may withdraw.” Pressing his fingertips against his brow, Fenxin seated himself.
Noticing the fatigue shadowing his expression, Chiyu asked, “If you are exhausted, do you require me to massage and soothe you for a spell?”
“Leave!” Fenxin’s expression grew impatient.
Bowing respectfully, Chiyu stepped out and exited the room. Turning back to gaze at that door, she thought to herself: Fenxin, I know there is a place for me in your heart, otherwise you wouldn’t have been heavily injured for my sake this time. In the end, it was I who dragged you down.
No matter; what did it matter if he spoke coldly and harshly to her? As long as a single corner of his heart held space for her, it was enough.
Lying down upon the bed to take a brief nap, Fenxin found certain scenes concerning Puding abruptly surfacing within his mind.
Recalling Puding’s alluring expression, distorted and suffering in discomfort, his cheeks involuntarily flushed with a rosy hue while his chest tingled with a faint itch.
To call this monk proper he wasn’t all that proper; to call him improper he remained exceptionally solemn.
It was simply that whenever he fell under the influence of drugs, he consistently exhibited a look of overwhelming desire.
Pondering further, he also found Puding rather amusing, and vowed that the next time he acted like that, he would definitely tease him a bit just to watch his thwarted, cornered expression.
Having completed his official business, Pei Yaoguang had long since returned to the capital, bringing along an extraordinary-looking handsome man into his estate.
That man was named Zhang Shu, an unsuccessful scholar who had long suffered setbacks until he coincidentally crossed paths with Pei Yaoguang.
Noticing he possessed a certain degree of attractiveness, Pei Yaoguang brought him back along.
Li Qing reported the investigative results regarding Consort Zheng’s exit records from the former dynasty. Hearing that they matched Puding’s statements entirely, he dismissed his suspicions and dropped the matter.
Inside the grand hall, spring glowed enchantingly as the purple wisteria incense collected for him by Wu Huan burned steadily.
Wearing a wicked smile, Pei Yaoguang hoisted the teapot and poured that goat’s milk across the back of his foot, with Wu Huan on his left and Zhang Shu on his right, the two of them licking one foot each.
Yet it was limited strictly to this; he dared not push things too far, as getting discovered posing as a fake eunuch would ultimately prove improper.
Only to hear Zhang Shu suddenly speak up: “Does Your Excellency wish to try a different trick? Let me massage and touch your back.”
The smile upon Pei Yaoguang’s face gradually stiffened: “No need, I do not wish to—don’t even mention it.”
Recognizing his own slip of the tongue, Zhang Shu immediately prostrated himself and begged for mercy: “Your Excellency, th—this humble subordinate spoke out of turn; please grant Your Excellency’s forgiveness.”
The corners of Pei Yaoguang’s lips curled upward as he pronounced each word distinctly: “Why not serve Wu Huan instead.” The tail-end of his sentence dragged out long and slow.
The two men exchanged glances, daring not disobey. Right beneath Pei Yaoguang’s very eyes, the two of them engaged in a round of intimate entanglement.
Pei Yaoguang grinned broadly, radiating high spirits as an evil charm overflowed from his pupils.
He then issued a reminder: “Be a bit bolder, you two it’s not stimulating enough; I want to see something even more stimulating!”
Displaying expressions of difficulty, yet unable to disobey, the two men had no choice but to bite the bullet and proceed with a deeper level of integration.
The room resounded with a wave of heart-pounding, face-flushing pleasurable moans, intermingling with Pei Yaoguang’s unrestrained laughter, permeating the entire chamber with the rich, heavy scent of chestnut blossoms.