It was late at night.

Gu Yunxi was embraced by his perfumed arms. Her eyes widened uncontrollably and she held the silky fabric on his waist tightly.

Her back was pressed onto the rockery, the discomfort of the hard and cold edges of which against her delicate skin was unignorable even through layers of clothes.

The night had blurred the outline of his face. The half clear and half hazy beauty in his features suddenly calmed her throbbing heart down.

It was Master Leng!

The noisy footsteps got closer. Gu Yunxi didn't dare to make a sound and leaned closer against Leng Qingtang's chest.

The moonlight pierced through the clouds, casting a large shadow under the looming rockery, which perfectly contained the embracing bodies.

Five meters away were Honour Guards. Their head held up the storm lantern to illuminate the field of vision, only to be horrified by a glimpse of the blue robe embroidered with a dragon.

From his perspective, he could only see Leng Qingtang's tall back but could not discern the person in his arms.

In the meantime, Leng Qingtang turned his head slightly and snapped.

"How dare! Who are you?"

The commander's burly body quivered. He hurriedly tossed the lantern and knelt down.

"Forgive me, Master. I'm the commander of Leopard Battalion. We chased after an assassin to this place with no intention to offend you."

The commander paused for a second and then tentatively asked,

"Master, it's not safe here. Why are you...?"

Intuitively, the loyal commander was aware that something was wrong. Wrinkling his brows, he secretly looked up and was welcomed by a furious force slashing onto him with death in the air.

Caught off guard, the commander was blown away by Leng's palm. He kept rolling like a ball until his subordinates held him.

Denying him a moment to catch his breath, Leng Qingtang continued to scold him sternly and unforgivingly.

"Remember that don't look where you shouldn't, and don't ask what you shouldn't."

Withdrawn, his hand wandered down smoothly between her legs and rubbed on the sensitive spot.

Immersed in extreme terror and tension, Gu Yunxi was listening to her own heartbeat breathlessly.

Suddenly, a tingling and pleasant feeling arose and spread all over her body. She couldn't help but quiver and moan for it.

The teasing groan flowed in the sensual night and gently fell on Leng Qingtang's heart like a feather. His eyes flickered as an ambiguous smile touched his lips.

The commander was even more frightened now. He regretted that he had brought his men here and interrupted the mighty lord's business.

Everyone knew that the Eunuch Superintendent controlled the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards and could read over the official reports in the Emperor's stead.

Now caught in a dilemma, what should they do?

Leng Qingtang smiled grimly and intimidated the commander with his menacing and gloomy voice.

"It's hard work to serve the royal family. I will let you go this time. Now get away."

"Yes, yes. I shall leave immediately!"

With a respectful and frightened countenance, the commander kowtowed countless times before he got up and turned to wave his men in a daze.

The crowd stirred, and soon the guards retreated and disappeared.

As soon as the crisis passed, Gu Yunxi turned her blushed face away from the strong and fragrant chest.

Struggling, Gu Yunxi realized that Leng Qingtang did not mean to let her go soon.

Under the dim moonlight, he took off her hood. When his eyes fell on the wide black cloak, he lost in a trance.

Stared at by his bewildered eyes, Gu Yunxi's sweaty back tensed. She swallowed uncomfortably and then asked softly,

"Master, will you not let me go?"

There was no reply.

Squinting his eyes and raising his brows, Leng Qingtang scooped the back of her head and buried her shaded face into his chest again. He savored the flurried shake of her soft bosom against his chest.

Bowing his head, he landed his soft lips on her forehead and rubbed flirtatiously.

Her eyes fluttered as her heart throbbed and her face burnt.

Her eyelashes were thick and long, which tickled Leng Qingtang as they brushed his chin.

In the end, his kiss slid down her nose bridge and reached her mouth.

As a sigh was released from her throat, Gu Yunxi's tense body suddenly went soft in the Master's arms after some wriggles.

"Where have you been tonight and who have you met?"

Leng Qingtang stopped abruptly and asked sedately. His question was uttered with little emotion.

"..."

Gu Yunxi frowned inadvertently and looked into his bright eyes. Her lips drooped and remained close in resistance.

She thought their kiss just now was faked to get the truth from her.

Leng Qingtang refused to give up and continued.

"The levitation that can outrun Leopard Battalion is unparalleled. Tell me that who taught you?"

Flurried and disappointed, Gu Yunxi knitted her brows and squirmed away from him. She tried to free herself from his restraint and replied docilely and coldly.

"This is my business. You don't need to worry about it, Master!"

He just rescued her, and now she turned hostile.

Leng Qingtang took a deep breath to push down the annoyance in his heart. He moved closer to Gu Yunxi's face and leniently gazed at her, trying to discern her suddenly changed face.

"Do you want to keep it secret even to me?"

Sighing softly, he sniffed her neck, breathing out hot air into her delicate ears.

"See how I'll punish you if you don't speak."

His eyes shone wittily, and his upturned tone was obviously teasing. The cold fragrance on his body invaded Gu Yunxi's keen nerves, gradually bringing down her defense.

"Tell me that who have you met?"

Clawing her shoulders with his fingers, he kissed her trembling lips lightly to tease her and then bit them.

For a second, they were brought back to the past. Her mouth was sweet and moist, seducing him to indulge in it farther.

His persistent attack finally touched her. Panting, she surrendered. Her stretched arms clung to him like vines, and her bewildering eyes were charming.

It turned out he was not the only person who was lost in pleasure.

From lingering kisses to passionate hugs, the two exchanged frantic requests and enthusiastic responses. Their bodies were inseparable as if they wanted to knead each other into themselves.

The secret body part of Leng Qingtang gradually awakened from the deep sleep. He did not want to hide it and was extremely eager to be honest with his beloved girl.

Tonight. Just tonight!

"Yunxi... I have a secret to tell you..."

Letting go of her wet red lips, he murmured.

"What is it?"

Breathless, she leaned back slightly on the rockery with a blushed face that was burning with desires.

"You'll find out later."

Also short of breath, Leng Qingtang smiled warmly. He helped her to loosen her belt, only to be attracted by a palm-sized jade flute.

"What is this?"

He stretched out his hand in surprise but was stopped by sober Gu Yunxi.

The jade flute silently reminded him of the existence of certain people and things.

"Master, it's just a gadget..."

Gu Yunxi hurried to lie as her face sank.

Leng Qingtang looked at her silently and stopped asking.

She was only seventeen. If not forced out of the Eastern Depot, she would have remained his treasure. She would not have suffered the pain of Face Moulding and numbed by many secrets.

He was the culprit. It was his arbitrary and selfishness that had made her so distant and cruel.

Holding her small hands with his big ones, Leng Qingtang confessed with a low and magnetic voice.

"Girl, I can wait for you to share the secret with me willingly. I only want to protect you. If you want, I can take you out of the Palace anytime."

Gu Yunxi was hurt by his gentleness. She raised her eyes to look at his shadowy face. It was too perfect to be real, and she could not see it clearly.

Coldness and loneliness arose from the bottom of her heart. Gu Yunxi smiled bitterly and rejected his offer mercilessly.

"You can't protect me. You can't protect anyone. Or Yunyao will not fall low like this. And I will not be what I am today!"

It was better for him to act decisively. A quick death beat life-long suffering, and it was fitter for one to be hurt than two.

Leng Qingtang's eyes opened in shock and his face was distorted by pain. Forbearing the heart-breaking grief, he blankly watched Gu Yunxi walking away with the flute.

In the same night, some other people in the Palace were wallowing in craziness as well.

Emperor Jingxiao had graced Xiaoye Chamber. On the canopy bed, he ravaged the concubine, which could be good or bad news depending on one's perspective in the imperial harem.

The next day, the Emperor went to court contentedly, leaving frustrated Gu Yunyao faced with the messy bed.

After a while, Gu Yunyao quietly ordered Song Qin,

"Bring the decoction."

Every time after bedding the Emperor, she would secretly drink a bowl of contraceptive decoction. She did not forget this habit after the Emperor revisited her last night.

Song Qin stood still before the bed, embarrassed.

Gu Yunyao noticed her strange look, so she asked,

"What's wrong?"

Song Qin hesitated. She looked at Gu Yunyao in panic and then lowered her head.

"Sorry, master, I did not prepare it..."

"What?!"

Upset, Gu Yunyao's face changed immediately.

"Master, it was my idea to not prepare the decoction. Please punish me."

Zhao An's soft and soothing voice floated into the cabinet through the curtain like a curl of smoke.

Gu Yunyao regained her composure and said,

"Call him in."

Song Qin nodded and retreated. Then Zhao An lifted the curtain and walked to the bed.

The air of carnality hadn’t yet faded away. It was a displeasing smell that another man had ejaculated on his love.

Zhao An frowned slightly. His heart ached, but his face stayed calm.

Gu Yunyao wrapped her nightgown tightly around her body to conceal her exposed skin and the red marks on it.

"Why not prepare it in time?"

Gu Yunyao asked slowly. She couldn't throw a temper at Zhao An.

"Master, it is for your own good. You have been ill for a long time and have tasted the fickleness of human nature. It is not easy to regain the Emperor's favor, and you should plan for yourself."

Gu Yunyao understood what Zhao An was alluding to. She motioned him to rise and produce a forced smile.

"I know your intentions are good. But you should also know that I was forced into the Palace. I only have you and Yunxi in my heart. How can I have His Majesty's offspring when I don't love him?"

Zhao An took two steps forward as tears sprang to his eyes. The sincere look of him rather affected her.

"Master, you know the Emperor's favor comes and goes like water. Fresh faces show in the imperial harem every year. I think you should have someone to rely on in the future."

Gu Yunyao took Zhao An's hands and pulled him to sit on the bed. With her eyes glowing and her cheeks blushing, she complained aggrievedly.

"Aren't you the one to reply on?"

Then, she threw herself into his chest and pouted like a baby.

Moved, Zhao An felt the noisy beating of his heart. He raised his hand to caress her head and sighed,

"I'll always be with you. Nonetheless, I'm but a servant who has his limitations. I'm begging you. Please take my advice for our sake."

Gu Yunyao hugged him tightly and sobbed in his arms.

"You know I'm kind, so you now threaten me with your love..."

A call sounded from outside,

"Your Grace, the Imperial Noble Concubine invites you to visit her at Yongning Palace."

The two behind the drapes were surprised. Gu Yunyao calmed down and replied,

"I shall go."

Gazing into Zhao An's eyes, Gu Yunyao looked dubious.

Zhao An's eyebrows wrinkled as his eyes darkened.

"The Wans are never friendly with you. She must have ill intentions to summon you as soon as you regain the favor. Master, be careful."

Gu Yunyao pondered for a moment, squinted her eyes, and then nodded.

"I'll bathe and change clothes now."