His voice was full of accusation: “You spent two hours in the bath!” Women were so time-consuming. “Did you win over Yu Haizhen?”

“Not yet,” she laughed softly. “But I can sense she likes me.”

“What’s so special about that?” He snorted. “I like you too, yet I don’t see you this pleased about it.”

Was this guy getting jealous regardless of whether the person was male or female? She leaned her full weight against him. “She will be my State Preceptor.”

He gave a dismissive grunt: “And I will be your husband.” With a wave of his hand, all the windows closed simultaneously, and a barrier appeared around the room.

Feng Miaojun instinctively opened her eyes: “What are you doing!”

He scooped her up in his arms and strode toward the inner chamber: “We still have unfinished business from Yinggang City. A dignified queen shouldn’t leave debts unpaid.”

Her ear happened to be pressed against his chest, and she could hear his heart beating rapidly, far from its usual calm.

Did he get nervous too?

He placed his beauty on the bed, leaning over her, trapping her within his arms with nowhere to escape.

Her hair cascaded like clouds across the pillow, her phoenix eyes flowing with spring water, every glance seeming to encourage him.

Feng Miaojun’s delicate fingertip traced from his brow down his straight nose to his sensual thin lips: “Having improper intentions toward the queen is a capital offense!”

He opened his mouth and took her jade finger, like a spring onion, between his lips. She felt a warm wetness teasing her fingertip, making even her heart itch with desire.

Yun Ya’s voice was muffled, but she understood clearly: “Before I lose my head, let me first commit the crime properly!” With that, he lowered his head to taste her red lips.

The temperature in the inner chamber seemed to suddenly rise.

Even as she was kissed breathlessly, she still tugged at his hair, raising her chin: “Will you be faithful to me alone after tonight?”

This girl, did she always need to have the upper hand in words? Yun Ya laughed, though the deep emotion in his eyes couldn’t be mistaken: “I will!”

Feng Miaojun reached out and pulled out his hairpin.

As his ink-black hair fell loose, she had already embraced his neck, offering a kiss of her own.

Garments fell away one by one until none remained. Her enchanting body was exposed to the cool air and the gaze of the man before her.

Yun Ya drew in a sharp breath.

She was truly exquisite, every inch of skin, every curve just perfect, enough to make his blood surge.

Yet she pouted slightly, complaining: “It’s cold.”

The next moment, she wasn’t cold anymore, as a smooth, hard male body pressed against her, full of heat.

The evening chill was insignificant compared to his warmth, yet Feng Miaojun was trembling. Normally she could control every muscle with ease, but now she couldn’t stop her body’s slight shivering.

It was pleasure, but also fear.

Even Yun Ya easily noticed her trembling and moved up from below, caressing her delicate face: “If you’re truly uncomfortable, shall I stop?”

His face was flushed, his voice hoarse. Feng Miaojun could also see that his body was tense, like a fully drawn bowstring.

Yet he still asked this question.

She shook her head.

Yun Ya smiled and lowered his head to gently bite her sensitive ear: “Do you want me?”

Feng Miaojun closed her eyes and nodded, with a trace of despair she didn’t notice.

She had once built walls around her heart to guard her feelings, keeping everything about him outside those high barriers.

Year after year, he had followed her like a shadow. She reminded herself to stay away from him, to be wary of him. She even deliberately schemed against him and provoked him.

But this man’s shadow had long ago taken root in her heart, unbreakable. With just a few kisses, he could, time and again, disarm her resistance and lower her defenses.

She wanted him too, desperately.

Even though between them lay national hatred and familial vengeance, even though countless unspeakable secrets separated them.

Even though they were the two people in the world who should least be together.

Even though this was a karmic relationship that any sensible person would avoid.

She was willing to sink into it, to indulge herself just this once.

“Good girl, so obedient.” Yun Ya spoke with tenderness, kissing her with utmost gentleness, one hand lifting her smooth, slender thigh as his body sank…

Thousands of miles away, in Wuser City, at White Horse Lake.

Although it was deep winter, White Horse Lake, relying on the warm earth energy, remained in full bloom.

In the valley, a pink bird lotus swayed in the wind. Though still a bud waiting to bloom, the hint of sweet fragrance within had already attracted a bee to gather nectar.

Unfortunately, it had not yet reached the time of blossoming. The bee circled the flower several times but couldn’t find the way in.

Unwilling to give up, it tried again and again to push its way in, finally discovering a thin, narrow passage.

The flower was shy, desperately trying to close its petals, but the bee unhesitatingly burrowed inward.

Compared to the little flower, it was too massive, and this forceful penetration almost tore the tight, soft passage.

On this night with storm clouds gathering, the little flower trembled even without wind; whenever the bee moved, it quivered in response.

But by now, the bee had reached the deepest part, where it was warm and sweet, containing the nectar it loved most.

It began its busy and arduous work.

Of course, labor also brought it joy.

Time passed bit by bit.

It lingered inside, forgetting to return, until much later when it slowly crawled out, covered in sticky nectar.

But as soon as it poked its head out, wild wind and rain were already pouring down.

White Horse Lake was snowing, though the snow melted into water droplets as soon as it hit the barrier.

Flying out now would likely result in wet wings and a fall to the ground. The bee didn’t need to consider at all before turning back to burrow into the little flower again, pushing in forcefully, regardless of how it trembled in the wind.

No matter how wild the wind and rain outside, tonight, this would be its shelter.

Plop.

Snow falling from branches to the ground woke Feng Miaojun from her deep sleep.

The sky was bright, the fire in the hearth had long gone out, and the room’s air was cool yet filled with a lingering sense of passion.

It seemed quite late. It had been a long time since she’d been this exhausted, and thus a long time since she’d slept so well.

She opened her eyes for several breaths before slowly coming to her senses, then realized someone was embracing her from behind, his hand precisely grasping the softness of her chest.

Their curves fit together, intimately close, like a pair of nested spoons.

The details of last night’s passionate entanglement replayed in her mind like a lantern show. Feng Miaojun instinctively covered her mouth, unable to believe she could be so wild.

Just as she moved, the person behind her noticed and buried his head in the crook of her neck, breathing against her ear: “Awake?”

His voice carried the huskiness of one just awakened, deep and seductive.

A tingling sensation spread from her nape, and she shrank her head: “We should get up, what time is it!” To have slept so late, everyone must be waiting for them to set out!

“No hurry, arriving two days later makes no difference.”