“Wuu…”
Violent waves of desire crashed over Yu Zhi again and again. Completely lost in sensation, he clung to the person before him, sobbing softly.
“I want…”
Yu Zhi didn’t know what he wanted.
He grew increasingly desperate, his misty eyes fixed on the blurred figure before him.
Just as his anxiety reached its peak, a sudden sensation of weightlessness swept over him. Yu Zhi let out a startled cry and instinctively wrapped his arms around the other’s neck.
The figure swept him up horizontally and stepped into the night.
Every inch of Yu Zhi’s body craved touch, yearned to be held in strong arms. Surrounded by the other’s scent, he exhaled softly, burying his face in the man’s neck and rubbing against him like a kitten.
“Bang—”
The thunderous crash of the door being kicked open reverberated in Yu Zhi’s ears. His vision blurred as his suspended body suddenly hit the ground. His legs, weak and unsteady, touched the floor, and he slid down helplessly.
Frantically, he hooked his arms around the waistband of the person before him, just as he was about to steady himself, a tremendous force slammed into him. Yu Zhi’s hands were pinned against the wooden door.
A deluge of kisses rained down.
Hot breath lingered from his brow to the corners of his lips as the other man devoured his mouth with reckless abandon.
“You…”
This position made Yu Zhi extremely uncomfortable. He wanted to command the other to release him, but before he could utter more than a single syllable, something soft and slippery suddenly invaded his mouth.
Dazed, Yu Zhi extended his tongue to lick it.
Suddenly, the man went frenzied, clutching his waist fiercely as he savagely entwined his tongue in a passionate kiss.
Yu Zhi’s body trembled.
Lifting his newly freed hands, he proactively wrapped them around the man’s neck, rising on tiptoes to meet the kiss.
–
Within the palace grounds, a lush banyan tree with sprawling roots echoed with a series of quiet, fragmented exchanges.
“Where’s the love powder from the climbing flowers?”
“Oh no, it’s gone!”
A tiny flying insect fluttered out from the banyan tree, its antennae twitching slightly between its eyes, both dark, shiny orbs filled with panic.
Today, it was responsible for collecting the climbing flower’s pollen, but it had accidentally lost it.
The tiny insect darted swiftly over the treetops, heading toward the grand hall it had passed earlier. The music and singing had just ceased inside, and palace attendants were cleaning the hall.
The scent of the climbing flower pollen is here!
The tiny insect’s antennae stiffened. It buzzed upward toward the imperial throne, discovering remnants of powder in a wine cup before the seat.
Oh no!
The climbing flower pollen had been consumed by humans.
Climbing flower pollen possessed potent aphrodisiac properties. If accidentally ingested by a human, that person would transform into a beast consumed by lust.
The tiny insect’s antennae instantly drooped, suspended in midair. Its two front legs scratched its head as it resolved to follow the pollen’s scent for a sneak peek. Trailing the faint powder trail, it arrived at a dimly lit, lightless palace.
“Waaah…”
The tiny insect faintly heard a weak sob.
Flying into the chamber, the sounds grew louder.
“Damn you! I’ll… kill you! Waaah…” The man wept pitifully.
The bed curtains swayed restlessly in the dark night. The little fly slipped through a lifted corner of the curtain. Inside the pitch-black canopy, a man poisoned by the love-inducing vine flower was viciously tormenting a beautiful youth.
The little fly’s pupils dilated in shock.
Like a headless fly, it circled the canopy several times before finally finding a gap. Flapping its wings rapidly, it escaped the bed curtains. Rubbing its head, still dizzy from the love powder, it felt deeply guilty.
The love poison from the climbing vine flower was extremely difficult to counteract.
That young beauty would likely suffer all night…
–
When Yu Zhi awoke, he felt as if his body were about to fall apart.
Every inch of him ached. He lifted his weak, numb arm, intending to rub his burning eyes, when a flash of crimson suddenly caught his gaze.
Startled, Yu Zhi instantly opened his half-closed eyes.
The arms were covered in dense, crisscrossing red marks.
Yu Zhi’s expression froze as his eyes slowly drifted downward toward his waist.
A thick arm was tightly wrapped around his waist, holding him close. His back pressed against the man’s bare, muscular chest, a steady heat radiating from behind.
In an instant, the chaotic memories of last night flooded Yu Zhi’s mind.
Damn it! He’d been slept with by a stranger.
Yu Zhi trembled all over, both shocked and furious. He reached out to pry the arm clamped around him loose, but it felt welded to his waist. No matter how hard he struggled, it wouldn’t budge an inch.
“Don’t move.”
A hoarse, deep voice whispered into his ear.
Yu Zhi froze, startled. That voice sounded familiar, like…
Before he could process it, Yu Zhi’s earlobe suddenly grew hot, sinking into a warm, damp place. A faint sting pricked his ear. Realizing what the man was doing, Yu Zhi’s hair stood on end.
He was licking his ear!
Yu Zhi struggled desperately, but the man effortlessly restrained every movement. His strong, muscular arms pinned Yu Zhi’s hands down, his scorching breath washing over the side of his neck.
“Be good. Let me have my way with you once more, and I’ll make you my Imperial Consort.”
Damn it! What kind of nonsense is this Imperial Consort? I… Wait! He is…
Yu Zhi felt as if struck by lightning.
The man continued his assault, sending shivers down Yu Zhi’s spine with every touch. His thin lips trailed along Yu Zhi’s neck, occasionally nipping and sucking at the flesh. Restless hands caressed his waist inch by inch.
Yu Zhi wanted to kill him, but he forced down his rage. Focusing intensely, he gathered the last few threads of spiritual energy from his dantian and channeled them into the man’s arm. A flash of white light erupted as the energy surged into the man’s body.
In an instant, the man who had been harassing him fell silent.
Yu Zhi closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath. Slowly, he turned his head to look behind him.
The moment that familiar face came into view, Yu Zhi wished he were dead.
It was indeed Luo Tingshi.
As the ruler of a nation, to be pinned down by the emperor of an enemy state—what utter disgrace!
Rage boiling over, Yu Zhi lowered his head and bit down hard on the arm pressed against his chest.
Hiss!
His teeth sank into rock-hard muscle, unable to budge it. After wasting his strength, Yu Zhi only managed to make his jaw ache.
Yu Zhi released his grip and glared back at Luo Tingshi. “You rock-hard bastard!”
He bent down to try and shift the man clutching him away. But even unconscious, Luo Tingshi held him in an iron grip. Yu Zhi was trapped, unable to break free.
What was even more infuriating was that the slightest movement tugged at his overworked body.
It hurt like hell.
Yu Zhi’s eyes turned bloodshot with rage. He’d been spoiled by his two fathers since childhood, and after becoming emperor, no one dared defy him. He’d never endured such humiliation.
“Damn beast, you bastard…”
Yu Zhi cursed furiously, lifting the canopy to glance outside. Sunlight streamed diagonally into the room, bathing it in brightness.
It was getting late. He had to hurry back to the Sifang Pavilion. Vanishing without a trace for an entire night, the Marquis of Changlin must be frantic with worry.
Yu Zhi withdrew his gaze and lowered the canopy.
Moments later, a snow-white kitten poked its head out and leaped from the bed.
The instant its paws touched the floor, the kitten’s legs buckled. It tumbled several times across the ground.
It growled softly, baring its teeth, curled up on the floor to recover for a moment, then shakily stood up. Opening its round eyes, its gaze followed the scattered garments across the floor toward the doorway.
A rather indescribable expression crossed the kitten’s face, accompanied by a low growl from its throat, as if cursing someone.
Limping, it dragged itself to the doorway, picked up a garment in its mouth, and trotted toward the bed. Its legs trembled, forcing it to pause and rest after every few steps.
After several trips back and forth, it finally gathered all the Yu Kingdom envoy’s clothes into a pile.
“Phew…”
Exhausted, the kitten panted heavily as it crawled toward the pile of clothes. It sprawled out in the soft garments, resting with its belly exposed, rising and falling slightly.
A quarter of an hour later, its ears twitched. It lifted its head, alert, and looked toward the doorway.
A sharp, high-pitched voice came from outside: “Your Majesty, Minister Chu seeks you. He says there is something to discuss.”
“Hmm…” A muffled groan came from within the bed curtains.
The kitten sprang to its feet, scanning the room frantically.
The movement on the bed grew louder. The man was likely about to wake. The kitten acted decisively, swiftly pushing the pile of clothes under the bed before diving in itself.
No sooner had it hidden than a voice tinged with faint anger sounded overhead: “Where is he?”
–
Luo Tingshi stared at the empty bed, his face turning ashen.
Last night, he’d been drugged. He’d intended to find a court physician to administer an antidote, but as he approached the Wangyan Pavilion, a beautiful woman suddenly threw herself into his arms.
The night was dim, and he hadn’t caught a clear glimpse of her features. All he saw were cat-like eyes, slightly rounded at the corners, clear and exquisite. The instant her tear-filled eyes met his, the thread of reason within Luo Tingshi snapped.
Consumed by the drug’s effects, his memory of what followed was hazy.
He only recalled her clinging to him relentlessly, demanding his attention.
Luo Tingshi had never experienced such intimacy before; everything was driven by pure instinct. The beauty in his arms had a slender waist and long legs, and her voice was enchanting. He sank deeper and deeper into her embrace, time and again…
When he awoke this morning, he still felt a lingering heat within him. He longed to be with her once more, but inexplicably, he suddenly fainted.
When he opened his eyes again, the beauty was gone.
Could it be she refused to be his imperial consort?
At this thought, Luo Tingshi’s face darkened further. Grinding his teeth, he roared, “Everyone, come in!”
With a creak, the wooden door swung open. Eunuchs and guards filed in one after another.
The emperor, clad in yesterday’s garments, shot a cold glare at the assembled men.
It was plain to see the emperor was in an exceedingly foul mood. His personal attendant, Wang Man, cautiously stepped forward and asked, “Your Majesty, what are your orders?”
“Who gave permission for her to leave?” Luo Tingshi’s voice was icy cold.
Wang Man was utterly baffled. He glanced at the guards beside him, who exchanged bewildered looks. Swallowing hard, Wang Man answered timidly, “Your Majesty, whom do you mean? We saw no one leave Lianchun Hall.”
Luo Tingshi’s expression grew even colder. Though it was early summer, everyone present felt as if they were in the depths of winter.
Wang Man shivered and ventured a guess: “Your Majesty, perhaps the person you speak of slipped out through that window over there. No one saw him.”
Dark emotions churned in Luo Tingshi’s eyes as he growled, “Search! Dig up the earth if you must, but find him for me!”
The little brat dared to run away.
Once caught, I’ll lock him to the bed and teach him a lesson he won’t forget!
–
Meanwhile, the kitten hiding beneath the bed—
—none other than Yu Zhi himself, the very one Luo Tingshi was searching for—slumped with a dejected feline expression, his tiny whiskers quivering with fury.
Damn Luo Tingshi!
After tormenting him all night, he hadn’t even settled the score with Luo Tingshi yet—what gave him the right to get angry?
Having suffered such a great loss, Yu Zhi simply couldn’t swallow his pride. Listening to the footsteps fading outside, his eyes glowed with icy fury.
One day, he would make Luo Tingshi pay for today’s actions.
Soon, silence returned to the room. Yu Zhi pricked up his ears, listening intently.
No breathing sounds. It seemed they had all left.
Yu Zhi looked down at the pile of clothes beneath him and frowned. He should destroy these garments—if Luo Tingshi found them, his identity would be exposed.
But last night had drained him completely. His body still felt weak, and his spiritual energy was utterly depleted. He could only revert to his original form and slowly regain his strength.
At this moment, he couldn’t even maintain human form, let alone deal with these clothes.
Frowning in frustration, Yu Zhi’s round eyes darted around. When they landed on a dark corner, his gaze paused. There were gaps at the four corners beneath the bed—perfect for hiding the clothes.
The kitten sprang into action, huffing and puffing as he stuffed every garment inside.
Once everything was safely stowed, Yu Zhi peeked cautiously out to confirm the chamber was empty before crawling out from beneath the bed. Standing at the foot of the bed, he crouched down, pressing his forehead to the floor to peer under the mattress.
The garments were concealed perfectly, showing no sign of disturbance.
As long as Luo Ting didn’t suddenly decide to replace this bed, he wouldn’t discover them.
Sigh.
Yu Zhi exhaled softly, knowing full well that leaving this pile of clothes here would eventually cause trouble. Yet, this was the only comfort he could offer himself.
Besides…
Last night, Luo Tingshi might have seen his face. Sooner or later, he would be exposed.
Preparing for the worst, Yu Zhi trudged toward the main door. Rounding the screen, several dark figures came into view against the wooden door.
Guards? Yu Zhi frowned.
This route was blocked. Yu Zhi turned toward the east-facing window. The windowsill wasn’t high, but for Yu Zhi in this moment, it might as well have been the sky.
Yu Zhi fixed his gaze on the window ledge, took a deep breath, jogged a few steps, and leaped with all his might.
He made it!
The moment his four paws gripped the sill, a barely audible meow of triumph escaped his throat. He pushed the window open a crack and peered out.
In that instant, Yu Zhi’s eyes widened.
A man as imposing as a mountain stood by the window, staring back expressionlessly.
Oh no, how did Luo Tingshi get here!
Yu Zhi froze in terror. Before he could flee, a large hand suddenly grabbed the back of his neck, lifting him up.
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