The incident of the demon bewitching the master had not succeeded in removing Hua Zhuyu, but this matter still left behind consequences.

Huangfu Wushuang originally had no inclination toward male lovers, but after this incident, whenever he saw Hua Zhuyu, he couldn’t help but have some romantic thoughts. Seeing Hua Zhuyu’s smooth, jade-like face, he couldn’t help wanting to kiss it; seeing Hua Zhuyu’s fair wrists, he couldn’t help wanting to grasp them and never let go; seeing Hua Zhuyu’s slender waist, he couldn’t help wanting to embrace it and pull him down. These fantasies made Huangfu Wushuang very frustrated and troubled.

Sometimes, Huangfu Wushuang truly wondered whether those with male lovers had been falsely accused by rumors? How had he suddenly felt he had this tendency? Was it because as he grew older, a man’s desires also became stronger and stronger, otherwise why would he have improper thoughts about men too?

Thinking this way, Huangfu Wushuang looked forward to the consort selection proceeding quickly, so he could soon take Wen Wan as Crown Princess. He estimated that then he wouldn’t be so hungry for affection. The consort selection matter had also finally reached its conclusion, with dozens of maidens selected to enter the palace, and Wen Wan was among these maidens.

However, before the Emperor had issued an edict declaring who would be Crown Princess and who would be Prince Kang’s consort, the time for summer retreat had arrived. Emperor Yan decided to go on the summer retreat first, and return to make selections among the various maidens.

Every year in the sixth month, the imperial family would go to the Qingjiang Summer Palace for retreat, and this year was no exception. Now that it was the sixth month and the consort selection had reached its conclusion, the Minister of Rites memorialized the Emperor to select an auspicious day to leave the palace.

The Emperor, Empress, consorts, Crown Prince, princes, close ministers, palace eunuchs, the dozen or so newly selected maidens, commanders of the Imperial Guards… all boarded ships and left the palace with the Emperor.

Over a hundred ships of various sizes proceeded majestically northward along the Qingjiang River.

The journey was smooth with favorable winds and pleasant scenery. By noon on the third day, they had arrived at the Summer Palace.

The Qingjiang Summer Palace was backed by high mountains and faced the river. Exquisite and elegant, its jade towers and separate courtyards were hidden among lush vegetation, appearing and disappearing from view. Within the Summer Palace were century-old trees with enormous canopies that blocked out the sky and sun. Upon entering, cool breezes blew constantly, making it extremely shady and comfortable—truly worthy of being called a summer retreat destination.

Being imperial relatives and nobility truly brought many blessings. In summer when it was hot, they could go to the Summer Palace for retreat; in winter when it was cold, they had warming chambers. Those fighting wars at the border didn’t have such good fortune—they sweated, shed tears, and also bled. Enemy troops might attack the city at any time, and whether the sun was scorching or snow was falling heavily, they still had to don battle robes and leave the city to meet the enemy. Speaking of it, she benefited from the mask’s protection, otherwise this face would probably have been tanned to a dark purple color. Most unjust was that when someone was displeased, all of you would have to lose your heads—how could this not make people resentful?

Hua Zhuyu followed Huangfu Wushuang through winding paths for quite a long stretch before finally reaching Qingyuan Garden located on the western side. This was where Huangfu Wushuang stayed every year during summer retreat. The buildings inside were small and elegant, with various precious flowers and trees planted throughout the courtyard, their fragrance permeating the air and refreshing to the heart.

After sitting on boats for two days, everyone was inevitably somewhat tired, so all rested. For a time, the Summer Palace was extremely quiet, with only the clear crisp sounds of birds singing. Two hours later, the Summer Palace became lively again.

They heard that the Emperor was in high spirits and had ordered guards and ministers to play cuju for entertainment.

When Huangfu Wushuang heard this, his eyes lit up. He originally loved hawking and dog racing, and though he had reformed considerably in recent times, this had certainly been stifling. Now hearing that the Emperor wanted cuju played, how could he not take the field? He immediately brought Hua Zhuyu and the three little eunuchs Ji Xiang and You Fu, threading through flowers and brushing past willows to reach the Northern Garden’s cuju field.

On the cuju field enclosed by bright yellow silk ribbons, dozens of people were already lined up in formation, mostly the Emperor’s guards and palace eunuchs. Those who could accompany the Emperor to the Summer Palace for retreat were all close ministers, most of whom were advanced in years, so not many ministers took the field.

Under a great tree, a canopy was erected, and Emperor Yan reclined in his imperial chair, watching the field with keen interest. Standing beside him was a person—none other than Left Prime Minister Ji Fengli.

Huangfu Wushuang went over to pay respects to Emperor Yan, raised his eyebrows, and looked at Ji Fengli saying, “Why doesn’t Left Prime Minister take the field? Left Prime Minister usually exhausts himself mentally and physically for the court—now you should relax well. Moreover, Left Prime Minister is the youngest among these ministers. Surely you can’t just stand by and watch here?”

Ji Fengli, having been challenged by Huangfu Wushuang, showed no sign of annoyance. Instead, he waved the folding fan in his hand and smiled even more warmly and elegantly.

Sometimes Hua Zhuyu truly wanted to step forward and shatter the warm, elegant mask on this person’s face to see what kind of person he really was deep down. Why could he always smile so elegantly no matter when?

Emperor Yan straightened in his seat, squinted at Ji Fengli, and smiled, “Beloved minister, the Crown Prince speaks correctly. You should also relax, so go down and play with them!”

Ji Fengli closed his folding fan, and though his face showed some difficulty, he still bowed to Emperor Yan saying, “Your subject respectfully obeys the imperial command.” He rose and went with Huangfu Wushuang to the temporary changing area enclosed by bright yellow brocade to change clothes.

The two men changed into clothes of different factions. Huangfu Wushuang wore a crimson red athletic outfit, appearing extremely spirited and vigorous, his black and white pupils shining with piercing light—truly captivating to the soul. He squinted at Ji Fengli, “Left Prime Minister, you must be careful on the field in a moment!”

Hua Zhuyu could tell at a glance what Huangfu Wushuang was plotting. It seemed he was determined to have a decisive battle with Ji Fengli on the cuju field.

Ji Fengli wore a lake-blue narrow-sleeved athletic outfit in the same style as Huangfu Wushuang’s crimson one. Having removed his official hat, his ink-black long hair was bound high, fluttering behind his head in the light breeze. The athletic wear made his figure picturesque—less ethereal, but with an added touch of clear and straightforward handsomeness.

He completely disregarded Huangfu Wushuang’s words, raised his eyebrows and smiled, “Fengli will naturally be careful. Thank you for Your Highness’s concern!”

The two men strode toward the field. Before leaving, Ji Fengli calmly glanced at Hua Zhuyu, his dark eyes containing a hint of playfulness.

Huangfu Wushuang’s faction was still missing one person. Huangfu Wushuang pointed at Hua Zhuyu and said, “Little Bao’er, you come up.”

Speaking of it, Hua Zhuyu truly knew how to play cuju. At the border when there were no battles, aside from training, they would find entertainment, and cuju was naturally included. She had originally been a good general who got along well with the soldiers, so she was rarely left out of such entertainment.

This time, she originally hadn’t planned to take the field—what fun was there in performing for the old Emperor? However, seeing Ji Fengli enter the field, the fighting spirit in her heart was immediately ignited. She rose and went to the tent behind her, quickly changed clothes, and walked out slowly.

Both sides lined up in formation. Huangfu Wushuang’s team mostly consisted of palace eunuchs, guards, and guard commanders from the palace; Ji Fengli’s team had court ministers and sons of noble families, all young and arrogant with great momentum.

The match was about to begin. Eunuch Chang from Emperor Yan’s presence came over with his whisk raised, saying, “His Majesty says that all of you must compete with your full strength. On the cuju field, there are no rulers and subjects, no masters and servants! Furthermore, none of you may use internal energy, lest someone be injured.”

Everyone responded in unison.

The ball was brought over, and the match began.

Huangfu Wushuang charged forward with agile movements, kicking the ball over with graceful posture and fluid motions. This young man was extremely fierce on the cuju field. The opposing players were not to be outdone either, all coming over to obstruct.

For a time, the cuju field resounded with tremendous noise as an intense battle unfolded.

Hua Zhuyu hadn’t expected that she and Huangfu Wushuang could cooperate so harmoniously. Before long, they had won two goals in succession. The struggle grew more and more intense, and the opposing side seemed to have their eyes red with battle rage. Just as Huangfu Wushuang received another ball, a military officer from the opposing faction extended his foot like lightning and snatched the ball from under Huangfu Wushuang’s feet.

Huangfu Wushuang was the Crown Prince, the future Emperor, yet this military officer had actually stolen Huangfu Wushuang’s ball—this truly was “no rulers and subjects on the cuju field.” Looking again at those guards facing court dignitaries, they also showed no fear and fought with full strength.

It seemed the match wasn’t as uninteresting as Hua Zhuyu had imagined.

Just as this thought flashed through Hua Zhuyu’s mind, the ball under that military officer’s foot suddenly shot toward her like lightning. Normal evasion would be too late. She hesitated whether to use internal energy to dodge, when she felt her abdomen sink as the ball struck her lower abdomen, and she immediately fell to the ground.

The ball was made from animal hide with animal fur stuffed inside. It wasn’t heavy, but it wasn’t light either. Being struck by it was extremely painful. Moreover, this person had clearly used internal energy as well. Her lower abdomen felt as if someone had struck it with a heavy punch—the pain was unbearable.

Hua Zhuyu clutched her lower abdomen and squinted toward the man, dimly seeing him make a gesture toward Ji Fengli. Hua Zhuyu’s heart filled with rage—so it was Ji Fengli’s instigation. How truly despicable! When the demon bewitching the master rumors couldn’t eliminate her, he actually wanted to vent his anger on the cuju field?

Huangfu Wushuang hurriedly ran over, helped Hua Zhuyu up from the ground, and asked softly, “Little Bao’er, are you all right? If not, go rest and let Ji Xiang replace you.”

“No need, your slave can still endure it!” Hua Zhuyu said softly, straightening her spine and standing up. Her clear eyes narrowed slightly, threads of icy sharpness flowing from within them.

Having just stood steady, she felt the surrounding atmosphere was somewhat strange. People from the opposing faction, and even several from her own faction, all showed somewhat contemptuous expressions on their faces.

Hua Zhuyu’s expression condensed. She knew what these people were thinking. Nothing more than considering her to be Huangfu Wushuang’s male favorite. Although that incident of demon bewitching the master had been suppressed by Emperor Yan, there were still rumors and gossip in the capital Yu.

All of this was thanks to Ji Fengli!

The match continued. Hua Zhuyu spotted an opening and snatched the ball from an opponent’s feet. Seeing that there was one of her own teammates beside Ji Fengli, she skillfully and inconspicuously applied force, pretending to pass the ball, but the ball went directly over that person’s shoulder and struck Ji Fengli right in the face.

The corners of Hua Zhuyu’s lips curved up slightly. She had known that Ji Fengli would absolutely not use internal energy to dodge. The matter of his having martial arts—unless it was like that night when she had stabbed down from the tree with her sword, forcing him to use his fan in combat—otherwise, in a match under everyone’s watchful eyes like this, how could the Left Prime Minister, who had no strength to truss a chicken, display martial arts?

Hua Zhuyu had also applied two parts internal energy to this ball, and the peerless face of the First Young Master immediately became somewhat bruised and purple.

Hua Zhuyu regretfully furrowed her brow. Emperor Yan had decreed that internal energy was not permitted, so she had only used a little. Otherwise, Ji Fengli’s face wouldn’t merely be bruised and purple.

Seeing this, Huangfu Wushuang laughed with great satisfaction. When their side cheered together, people from the opposing faction became angry. No longer playing cuju, a noble family’s son and a guard began wrestling together. What had started as a cuju match was evolving into a general melee.

Emperor Yan sat on his dragon throne. Originally his expression had been somewhat listless, but seeing this, his long eyes narrowed with much more interest.

“Your Majesty, should we stop them?” Eunuch Chang asked with a bow.

Emperor Yan waved his hand with a smile, “No need, let them fight.” Emperor Yan pondered for a moment, “Go convey an edict saying the cuju match is changed to a wrestling match.”

Eunuch Chang went to carry out the order. With this edict transmitted, everyone who had originally been in high dudgeon now felt it was time to vent their anger with the change to wrestling. They all chose opponents and began wrestling together.

Among them, two men actually rushed toward Hua Zhuyu together, using wrestling techniques and wanting to pin Hua Zhuyu beneath them. Hua Zhuyu’s heart immediately flared with anger. She was, after all, a woman. Dodging backward, she leaped in front of Ji Fengli.

Those wrestling together were all hot-blooded young nobles and guards who had received Huangfu Wushuang’s orders.

Ji Fengli and some ministers hadn’t participated, and naturally Huangfu Wushuang was also idle. Seeing Hua Zhuyu leap over, Huangfu Wushuang said with a laugh, “Yuan Bao, why don’t you challenge the Prime Minister!”

Hua Zhuyu hurriedly responded, “Your slave obeys the command!” Actually, she couldn’t have asked for more. Her figure flashed as she reached toward Ji Fengli’s shoulder. Ji Fengli didn’t dodge and was caught squarely by Hua Zhuyu.

Hua Zhuyu glanced toward Emperor Yan and saw his face full of interested amusement as he watched their match. Her heart suddenly stirred—perhaps Emperor Yan wasn’t unguarded against Ji Fengli either? Maybe he also wanted to know whether Ji Fengli truly had no martial arts. With this thought, she didn’t hold back with her hands. However, she also didn’t dare reveal martial arts that were too advanced, lest she arouse suspicion for no reason. So she used some third-rate skills, and the two began fighting.

Seeing the carefree smile at the corners of Ji Fengli’s lips, Hua Zhuyu threw a punch, and blood immediately trickled from Ji Fengli’s lips. Seeing his smooth, jet-black topknot was displeasing, she threw another punch, and Ji Fengli’s hair immediately scattered in disarray. Combined with his scarred face, he looked exactly like a ghost.

Ji Fengli had been dodging all along, but after being beaten like this by her, his anger also rose, and he began to fight back. Naturally he dared not use internal energy, and his moves also looked quite clumsy.

Two people who dared not use their true skills threw punches and kicks at each other, wrestling together. Hua Zhuyu had finally caught this opportunity and showed absolutely no mercy, every punch landing on flesh, plus she scratched and clawed.

This wrestling match was somewhat unbearable to watch.

After fighting for a while, Hua Zhuyu still couldn’t force Ji Fengli to reveal his martial arts. She knew this treacherous person wouldn’t use martial arts even if he died at her hands. But how could she truly kill him under Emperor Yan’s nose? Her heart immediately flared with anger, and she suddenly grabbed Ji Fengli’s hair. The smooth, jet-black hair came off in a strand with one pull.

Hua Zhuyu froze, holding that strand of hair and looking up, meeting Ji Fengli’s bright, deep eyes directly. His eyes were full of surprise and amazement. Then his lips involuntarily twitched, as if he wanted to smile but ultimately didn’t, ending up with a expression caught between tears and laughter. His lake-blue athletic wear had long been torn beyond recognition—truly disheveled with scattered hair. Combined with several bruises and scratch marks on his face, he was as bedraggled as could be.

“Hahahaha…” Emperor Yan laughed very heartily, pointing at guards observing on the side and commanding, “Quick, quick, go pull them apart, don’t let them fight again!”

Several guards hurriedly ran over and forcibly pulled the two people a zhang apart.

Ji Fengli covered his head and slowly walked before Emperor Yan, bowing and saying, “Your Majesty, Fengli truly is no match for Eunuch Bao. I willingly admit defeat.”

“Eunuch Chang, have someone bring a box of wound medicine to the beloved minister. Beloved minister, you should quickly change clothes and rest early tonight!” Emperor Yan said with a smile.

Hua Zhuyu hurriedly knelt before Emperor Yan, saying, “Please forgive your subject’s crime, Your Majesty!”

Emperor Yan’s lips curved slightly as he smiled, “Yuan Bao, you are very brave. I like it very much. You may withdraw!”

“Yes!” Hua Zhuyu kowtowed three times before getting up.

After the cuju match, the sun was already setting in the west.

Several court ministers accompanying the imperial entourage all lived in the Eastern Garden of the Summer Palace. There was a large courtyard with several side rooms, all built quite simply. Because the courtyard was planted throughout with green bamboo, it was called “Bamboo Garden.”

When Ji Fengli returned to Bamboo Garden, the other court ministers hadn’t yet returned. He sat on a stone chair in the courtyard, removed his official hat, and touched his wounds with his hand. The pain made him furrow his brow, and looking at his hand, there were still traces of blood.

That strange fight just now—he had never had such an experience in his entire life, yet it felt inexplicably satisfying. He stared at his own hand, then tugged at his lips and furrowed his brow, ultimately not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

However, although he couldn’t laugh, there was still someone who could.

A blue-robed scholar appeared behind him, his narrow eyes curved into crescent moons as he laughed so hard he swayed back and forth.

“The dignified Left Prime Minister fighting with a little eunuch—this is truly… very amusing.” He laughed uncontrollably while pointing at Ji Fengli’s face. “That little eunuch seemed intent on turning the First Young Master’s peerless beauty into a pig’s head, then plucking all the First Young Master’s hair, and then the First Young Master would become…”

Before finishing his sentence, the blue-robed scholar was already bent over with laughter.

“Stop laughing!” Ji Fengli glared at him coldly, and the blue-robed scholar immediately shut his mouth. However, suppressing laughter was truly uncomfortable—his face turned bright red and his shoulders kept trembling.

Actually, Ji Fengli wasn’t just in pain on his face and head—his entire body ached everywhere. He hadn’t dared use internal energy earlier, fearing someone might notice something suspicious. But that little eunuch had truly been ruthless—punch after punch, kick after kick—his body was probably covered in bruises too.

That little eunuch was also a clever person and surely knew that the demon bewitching the master incident had been his instigation, which was why he harbored such resentment toward him.

“Prime Minister, I find that little eunuch increasingly interesting. No wonder the little Crown Prince likes him. If I had inclinations toward male lovers, I’d probably like him too! If there were more young men like this in the world, there would probably be more men with such preferences. Oh my, this is too amusing—he actually used the fighting techniques of shrewish women. Fortunately, he didn’t resort to biting.” The blue-robed scholar couldn’t stop laughing as he looked at Ji Fengli.

Ji Fengli couldn’t help but let his lips curve up slightly. He sighed and raised the wine cup from the table high, the wine arcing through the air and pouring straight down his throat.

“Zhang Yuan is becoming increasingly reckless!” Ji Fengli set down the wine cup, his expression growing stern as he spoke coldly. The gentle and elegant Ji Fengli now emanated an aura that made people tremble and not dare to be too presumptuous.

The blue-robed scholar stopped laughing, his expression growing serious. “This subordinate will immediately tell him to behave himself! If not for him, today’s cuju match wouldn’t have become a wrestling match, and Prime Minister wouldn’t have been forced to fight with a little eunuch.”

Ji Fengli squinted slightly, his jet-black phoenix eyes unfathomably deep, their depths full of complex ripples of light, while his lips curved in a hint of playful smile.

Hua Zhuyu followed Huangfu Wushuang to Qingyuan Garden. Ji Xiang attended to Huangfu Wushuang’s bath while Hua Zhuyu looked at her own body covered in sweat and dust, frowning.

Usually in the palace, the place where she lived had bathing facilities. Only late at night, when no other eunuchs would go to bathe, would she quietly go over, fill the water, and bathe.

But on this trip outside the palace, because each person had relatively few attending eunuchs, each separate garden didn’t have dedicated bathing places for eunuchs. Although the entire Summer Palace had one large bathing facility, Hua Zhuyu was unwilling to go there—too many people used it. After helping Huangfu Wushuang settle down to rest, Hua Zhuyu told Ji Xiang and quietly slipped out of the Summer Palace to see if she could find spring water somewhere to bathe.

Actually, there were springs and lakes everywhere within the Summer Palace, but how could she dare bathe within the Summer Palace grounds? Slipping out of the Summer Palace, she followed mountain paths up the back mountain.

Under the moonlight, the mountains were silent and still. The breeze blew gently, carrying the fresh fragrance of grass and trees. After crossing a ridge, a flower forest appeared before her eyes. Various colored flowers bloomed under the moonlight, their fragrance rich and heady, making one almost suspect they had walked into a distant dream.

Deep within the flower grove was a lake that looked like a clear mirror under the moonlit night.

Clear moonlight streamed across the lake surface, which reflected the moonlight back, creating shimmering waters and rippling waves everywhere. Very faint water vapor also rose from the lake surface like smoke and mist.

Hua Zhuyu was captivated by the beautiful scene before her. She raised her eyes to survey the surroundings and discovered this was a mountain valley, extremely secluded. This flower forest was also very lush, concealing this lake and making it very difficult to discover. This was truly an excellent bathing place—very safe.

But Hua Zhuyu still wasn’t completely at ease. She got up and collected some stones from the cliff side, scattering them among the tree groves to set up a simple Three Yang Formation. When it came to setting up formations, she was quite expert—Five Elements Yin-Yang Formation, Seven Star Formation, Eight Trigrams Formation, Nine Revolutions Star Formation, Ten-Sided Ambush Formation, Flying Flowers Chasing Moon Formation, Wind Sweeping Clouds Formation, Heaven and Earth Formation… she had ordered her subordinate soldiers to practice them all. Speaking of it, all these years of warfare had benefited from these formations. However, those formations were all living formations that required soldiers to constantly change positions to achieve miraculous effects. Now these mountain stones and trees were all dead and wouldn’t move, so this Three Yang Formation was the simplest—it would just make people lose their way and be unable to discover this lake.

After completing all this, Hua Zhuyu felt at ease removing her clothes. She listened carefully—aside from the occasional bird calls, there were no other sounds. The mountains were so tranquil and serene that one’s heart gradually calmed as well.

She extended her jade foot to first test the lake water, which was actually somewhat warm. It seemed that hot spring water flowed here, forming this lake. Hot spring water could dispel cold and maintain warmth, activate blood circulation and regenerate muscles, and accelerate wound healing. She also had several bruises on her body—soaking in hot spring water would probably make these bruises fade. She hadn’t expected her luck to be so good. Thinking of the scratches and bruises on Ji Fengli’s face, and probably on his body as well, he wouldn’t have such good fortune to bathe in hot spring water. Let him suffer in pain—Hua Zhuyu thought wickedly. She felt that the resentment that had been suppressed in her heart for so long had finally been vented a little.

Hua Zhuyu found a suitable spot in the shallows and enjoyed a comfortable bath. All her pores seemed to open up, the bruises on her body immediately stopped hurting, and her entire body felt refreshed.

She soaked in the lake, looking up at the deep and vast starry sky, with distant misty green mountains and nearby beautiful fragrant flower trees. Everything under the moonlight was so dreamlike and wonderful. The occasional insect calls and bird songs were also extremely beautiful to hear. Ah, when one’s mood is good, truly flowers appear to bloom and every sound is beautiful.

Although the road ahead was uncertain, although the past had been painful, on such a night, Hua Zhuyu temporarily laid down the heavy burden in her heart and forgot her previous troubles. Even if tomorrow she would still face flashing swords and bloody storms, let her just relax temporarily for now.

Hua Zhuyu didn’t know when she had fallen asleep. Perhaps she had slept for a long time, perhaps just a short while, but she was awakened by a subtle sound. She suddenly opened her eyes, and the alertness trained on the battlefield made her quickly squint and scan the area.

There was no one around, so she finally exhaled in relief. Standing up from the water, she saw the night was already very deep—she had to hurry back to the Summer Palace. Hua Zhuyu turned around, intending to swim to shore to retrieve her clothes. But just as she turned, she froze there. Under the flower trees over there stood a person.

To encounter Ji Fengli even while bathing—could it be that she had done too much evil in her previous life, and Heaven was punishing her like this?

An entire night’s good mood was spoiled and driven away by this detestable person.

Hua Zhuyu’s first reaction upon seeing Ji Fengli should have been to scream, then dive underwater. However, she didn’t, because she was clear about her current identity. She wasn’t a woman now—why should she fear him seeing? So Hua Zhuyu suppressed her urge to scream and slowly dove into the water.

Although she had stood up from the water just now, the water only reached her waist. Moreover, after bathing, she had already bound her full breasts with silk bands. The silk bands she used this time were very, very thin and flesh-colored. Even in daylight, one would need to be very close to notice, let alone at night in the misty lake.

So Hua Zhuyu suppressed her scream and dove into the water with extreme composure.

“What a coincidence—Prime Minister is also here to soak in the hot springs?” Her bright smiling face was luminous as the bright moon.

Ji Fengli stood under the flower trees, which were blooming magnificently. His entire appearance looked awkward to Hua Zhuyu no matter how she looked at him.

The bruises and scratches on his face hadn’t yet faded, making him look like a ghost. But he wore an ice-blue wide-sleeved long robe with emerald bamboo leaves embroidered all over the hem. When the night breeze lifted it, he appeared ineffably elegant and refined. Combined with this person’s consistently noble and elegant temperament, he looked like an immortal.

Face like a ghost, clothes like an immortal—how could this not look awkward? Simply neither immortal nor ghost!

After Ji Fengli clearly saw Hua Zhuyu’s features, the trace of amazement in his dark eyes instantly transformed into disgust.

When he had emerged from behind the trees just now, he had seen a silhouette. Clean moonlight poured down like light gauze, gently enveloping that unclothed figure like a fairy who had mistakenly fallen to the mortal world. Hair like flowing spring water cascaded around the waist, which was so slender it couldn’t fill one’s grasp, and shoulders so fair they seemed carved from white jade.

But then he was immediately struck with disappointment.

The fairy turned out to be a demon—a demon with a woman’s face.

That chest was truly very flat indeed! However, the waist really was slender, and even the voice had become effeminate, probably also due to castration, thus displaying feminine characteristics. No wonder they said eunuchs were neither male nor female—today he had truly witnessed it.

Moreover, this neither-male-nor-female person, having been seen by him, acted as if nothing had happened and slowly dove into the water. Truly thick-skinned enough. Could he be trying to seduce him? Could this person really prefer male lovers? Probably the receiving party too. Come to think of it, if this Yuan Bao wasn’t inclined toward male lovers, then he was a spy. Otherwise, with such talent, why would he ever become a eunuch?

Thinking this way, the disgust in Ji Fengli’s eyes deepened, though his face still maintained some smile. “So it’s Eunuch Bao. What a coincidence indeed! So Eunuch Bao also knows there’s a hot spring here. I wonder if Eunuch Bao has finished bathing?”

Hua Zhuyu smiled with curved lips. “Already finished. Please take your time bathing, Prime Minister.”

While vigilantly watching Ji Fengli, she inconspicuously glanced around in all directions. The clothes she had casually set down earlier were nowhere to be seen. She remembered placing them under a tree by the lakeside, but which tree exactly? What she most wanted to do now was put on her clothes and leave quickly, but she couldn’t very well search around naked with a man watching, especially her enemy.

Today during the day, she had just beaten him up. Now with no one around, he wouldn’t try to kill her, would he? Others might not know Ji Fengli’s martial arts, but she was very clear about them—they were unfathomably deep. She didn’t know if she could handle him!

Ji Fengli watched as Hua Zhuyu floated on the water surface without moving, still looking at him with bright eyes. She said she was finished bathing but refused to leave. He furrowed his brow slightly, his lips curving in a cold smile.

He walked to the lakeside and began slowly untying the jade belt at his waist, then the smooth ice-blue outer robe, then the inner garments underneath. That gradual undressing motion was so slow it was languid and sensual!

Hua Zhuyu was dumbfounded! She never expected Ji Fengli would undress in front of her, and so calmly and naturally too. Although her current identity wasn’t that of a woman, she was still a person, right? How utterly shameless!

Hua Zhuyu lowered her head and sank into the lake. Everything was dark and murky underwater—she couldn’t see anything. Her swimming skills weren’t particularly good—she could barely be called able to swim. She could only rely on her strong internal breath to hold her breath underwater. Slowly diving forward, estimating she should be near the shore, she finally burst out of the water with a splash.

Probably her brain had been waterlogged from soaking in the hot spring too long—after diving for so long, she had actually moved further and further from shore. Moreover, she had actually dived right in front of a wall of flesh.

This wall of flesh was indescribably beautiful. The lines outlined by moonlight were even more fluid—a fair and supple neck, extremely sexy collarbones, a chest without an ounce of excess fat yet very solid, a narrow waist that curved slightly inward, long and elegant arms. Everything was so beautiful and proportioned, like a masterpiece of Heaven, like a udumbara flower blooming in the night—beautiful and mysterious.

She had actually swum right in front of Ji Fengli?! Heaven, just strike her dead with lightning!

“What’s this? Has Eunuch Bao taken a fancy to this minister and eagerly swum right in front of me? This minister has no inclination toward male lovers, but…” A clear and elegant voice exploded overhead. “Since Eunuch Bao is so beautiful and has gone to such lengths to seduce this minister, wouldn’t this minister be too ungrateful to refuse? Since that’s the case, this minister will reluctantly agree.” Having seduced the Crown Prince and now coming to seduce him, the Left Prime Minister—this eunuch really wasn’t simple! He hadn’t expected that the rumors he had spread before were actually true!

Hua Zhuyu suddenly squinted, looking at the person before her.

His long hair scattered like black lotus petals across his back—truly magnificent beyond compare. Hua Zhuyu truly resented not having plucked him bald! Looking again at his lips curved in that half-smile and those eyes slanting toward her full of mockery, Hua Zhuyu’s teeth itched with hatred. Floating on the water surface with only her head exposed, she coldly parted her lips: “Never would have thought, never would have thought that the dignified Prime Minister would actually be a complete and utter scoundrel!”

Ji Fengli acted so sanctimonious during the day, yet was actually this shameless. His true nature was finally revealed—he was just a despicable villain.

She suppressed the anger in her heart. No matter how furious she was, she couldn’t start fighting with him—she was naked right now. She turned and swam toward shore. The urgent matter at hand was to quickly find her clothes and leave immediately.

Ji Fengli hadn’t expected Hua Zhuyu would swim away. How could he let her go so easily! His ink-dark long eyes narrowed, a cold and sinister light flashing within.

“Eunuch Bao, why are you leaving? Don’t you like this minister anymore?” After speaking, he took a long deep breath, submerged his entire body in the lake water, and silently dove to Hua Zhuyu’s side.

Hua Zhuyu was almost at shore when she suddenly felt an undercurrent below. Her foot immediately hurt as her ankle was grabbed by someone, and a great force struck, continuously pulling her underwater. Unable to use her feet to paddle and anxious in her heart, Hua Zhuyu choked on a mouthful of water—the taste was truly unbearable. She knew clearly that Ji Fengli had suffered losses during the day and wouldn’t let her off so easily. Could he really want to kill her?

If she died here, even if Huangfu Wushuang knew about it, what could he do? She was just a little eunuch—no one would stand up for her. But was she, Hua Zhuyu, so easy to kill? She closed her eyes and let her body sink, pretending to have been choked unconscious. Her right palm suddenly exerted force—this palm carried the water current and struck suddenly, ruthlessly slapping toward the darkness beneath her feet.

The grip on her ankle immediately loosened. Hua Zhuyu took the opportunity to kick wildly with both legs and surfaced from underwater. Without time to catch her breath, she urgently swam toward shore.

Once on shore, she couldn’t be bothered to search for her own clothes. Seeing Ji Fengli’s ice-blue long robe hanging on a tree branch, she grabbed it and draped it over herself. Just as she covered her unclothed fair body, the lake surface made a light splash as Ji Fengli’s head emerged from the water. He wiped the water droplets from his face and, seeing Hua Zhuyu wearing his robe, his deep phoenix eyes flashed with cold light.

That had truly been dangerous just now. Because she couldn’t be certain whether Ji Fengli really wanted her life or just wanted to frighten her, thinking about it now still made her quite afraid.

She turned back with a charming smile, also gathering Ji Fengli’s undergarments in her arms, squinting with a smile: “Prime Minister, please take your time bathing. I’ll leave first and borrow these clothes temporarily! Also, Prime Minister, I’m not inclined toward male lovers, and even if I were, I wouldn’t fancy you. Your physique isn’t imposing enough!” With that, she ran toward the flower grove. After running a few steps, she suddenly saw her own eunuch clothes placed under a tree. She smiled and grabbed those up too, thinking: Ji Fengli, oh Ji Fengli, if you have the ability, chase this young lady naked all over the mountain.

The night was already very deep. She employed lightness skills, running desperately through the flower grove until she was certain Ji Fengli hadn’t pursued her, then finally breathed a sigh of relief. Ji Fengli, in the end, hadn’t dared to chase her naked.

She exhaled and walked slowly through the flower grove when she suddenly heard two voices from the flower bushes to her left. One voice said: “How is it that we’ve been walking here for so long but can’t find the lake where the Prime Minister is bathing, and we can’t get out either? What’s going on? Are we lost?”

“Exactly! This place is so strange! That lake was clearly in this flower grove—how come we’ve searched for so long but can’t find it? Could the lake have changed location?” another voice asked in confusion.

It seemed to be guards who had come with Ji Fengli. Probably Ji Fengli had originally told them to wait outside the flower grove. When they grew impatient, they came in to look for Ji Fengli, but didn’t expect to enter her formation and now couldn’t get out. Good! Now even the people to bring Ji Fengli clothes were gone!

She just hadn’t expected Ji Fengli to have some ability—he had actually been able to break her formation! This person truly wasn’t simple. She would have to be doubly on guard against him!

Hua Zhuyu walked slowly through the flower grove, following the mountain path downward. At a steep cliff edge, she gazed into the distance, seeing only lush mountains stretching endlessly under the cold moonlight. This Qingjiang Summer Palace not only had mountains and water with beautiful scenery, but was also an easily defended and hard-to-attack location. The imperial family not only knew how to enjoy themselves but also took excellent security measures.

Hua Zhuyu took the clothes and found a dense flower grove where she removed Ji Fengli’s robe and changed back into her own eunuch clothes. Fingering Ji Fengli’s ice-blue robe, she flicked her hand and threw it into the ten-thousand-zhang deep cliff below. Speaking of it, that robe was made of luxurious fabric with extremely exquisite embroidered bamboo leaves—what a pity.