“…My child…”

The dripping wet shadow slowly approached.

In the dim light, Feng Zhiwei stared at that blurred figure, a faint pallor spreading between her brows, her eyes dazed and unfocused.

That “person” stopped three feet before her, extending a hand in a gesture of yearning to embrace—a gesture all mothers under heaven had made toward their children. That kind of calling and attachment, like gentle arrows, struck directly at the most vulnerable pain deep within.

Familial love was pure and flawless, universally applicable across the four seas.

In a mother’s embrace under heaven, all children would irresistibly surrender themselves.

Feng Zhiwei sat on the ground, staring blankly at that shadowy figure, her body beginning to tremble slightly.

In the hazy mist, she murmured, “Mother… is it you…”

That shadowy figure stood three feet away, gazing at her with gentle, trembling eyes.

Feng Zhiwei suddenly supported herself against the rock wall and slowly stood, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on that figure, her face full of pain and confusion, saying softly, “…Mother… you’ve finally come… I have so many things I want to tell you… why did you… why did you…”

That shadowy figure was wrapped in a mass of vapor, looking at her with sorrow and compassion.

Feng Zhiwei suddenly lunged forward, throwing herself into that mud-dripping embrace.

“…Why did you sell me to the theater!”

Her voice completely changed from the previous confusion and sorrow. Feng Zhiwei’s shout was sharp as tearing silk, fierce and formidable, brutally ripping apart the narrow cave’s silence and stagnation. She lunged out viciously, like a cannonball, nearly grief-stricken as she crashed into that shadowy figure’s embrace!

That figure, seeing her confused and drifting, had expected a deeply emotional tearful scene. Previously, many people under the simultaneous effects of this environment and the mind-controlling incense had fallen into the trap, crying to her about their ancestors eighteen generations back. Who would have thought this Lady Huang, confused and controlled as she was, would produce this cannonball-like performance!

“Why did you sell me to the theater!” Feng Zhiwei viciously pinched her arm, striking hard and accurately, each pinch leaving a bloody mark.

“Grandmother left me a dowry, you took it for my brother’s schooling, then sold me—is there any mother as cruel as you in this world?” Feng Zhiwei butted her head into that filthy bosom, ramming repeatedly, specifically targeting certain soft, undulating parts.

“That dead ghost father got drunk every day and beat me. Never saw you stop him once—you only protected my brother!” Feng Zhiwei raised her hand to tear at the hair. That person swayed awkwardly, dodging left and right.

“At thirteen, Li and I were mutually devoted. His family was willing to marry me. You just despised them for being poor, saying learning theater would bring silver, forcibly tearing us apart and sending me to that hellhole. Scolded every day, beaten daily. If I couldn’t sing well, I’d kneel on a pile of stones in heavy snow for three days without food. Li later died of typhoid fever. I didn’t even see him one last time. The day I rushed back was also a heavy snow day—all I saw was a grave, just a grave—” Feng Zhiwei grabbed her and shook frantically, shaking that person until she swayed east and west. “Speak! Speak! How dare you come see me?”

That person shook in her hands like a broken sack, wanting to resist but not daring to. The more Feng Zhiwei spoke, the angrier she became. Her head tilted and with a roar, she was about to bite off that person’s earlobe.

“Madam, stop!” Someone behind suddenly shouted sternly. Rapid footsteps rushed over. Feng Zhiwei seemed oblivious, still viciously biting forward. Her waist was suddenly grabbed, a great force dragging her backward. She didn’t turn her head, wildly waving and slapping the person holding her from behind while forcefully kicking with her legs in that person’s embrace at the fake mother she’d beaten badly. “I’ll kick you to death! I’ll kick you to death! Kick you to death!”

Dragging her backward were precisely the bearers who had gone to “fetch clothes,” finally appearing very timely. One held her while the other quickly pushed aside that mud-dripping person.

A cold smile flashed in Feng Zhiwei’s eyes.

The bearer holding her quickly slapped something near her ear. A cool fragrance swept past. Feng Zhiwei’s kicking motion suddenly stopped.

Then she looked up somewhat dazedly, seeming not to understand how she got here or what she’d just done. Looking down, she discovered the bearer’s hand gripping her waist. Instantly enraged, she turned and “smack” rewarded him with a slap. “Lecher! Dare touch your auntie!”

The bearer had just released her from the hallucinogenic drug when he received this slap. Dazed, he didn’t dare strike back, inwardly lamenting—how did he encounter such a lioness today?

Though a lioness, this Lady Huang truly showed no flaws. According to manor rules, those who passed the Phantom Cave test were guests and must not be treated rudely. So when Feng Zhiwei beat the fake mother, they could only dutifully endure. When she slapped, they could only accept it.

“Is this how Shuyu Manor treats guests?” Feng Zhiwei stood with hands on hips, furious. “First frighten me to death! Then anger me to death! And my clothes—” She shook her mud-dripping dress. “How can I see people?”

The bearers looked on with bitter smiles, thinking her fierceness was truly world-class. Previously with this matter, there had been unexpected reactions, but never anyone who directly pounced and beat someone.

“Madam can change clothes after exiting the cave.” The bearer bowed respectfully. “The manor has hot springs, good for beauty and qi. Madam might try them.”

“That’s more like it.” Feng Zhiwei snorted. Turning her head, she exclaimed, “Eh, where’s that ghost shadow I just saw?”

“There was no ghost shadow. Madam saw wrong.” The bearer still smiled, but his tone carried a warning. “This is Shuyu Manor, property under the Second Prince’s name, the capital’s premier garden. There absolutely cannot be any unclean things.”

Feng Zhiwei snorted again, glancing at him but saying no more. The two bearers exchanged looks, thinking though this one was fierce, she wasn’t completely stupid.

“Hurry up, we’ve already delayed so long.” Feng Zhiwei arranged her hair. “Where’s my husband? Take me to find him. This cave is gloomy and frightening. I want to walk with him.”

“Well…” The two bearers looked troubled.

Feng Zhiwei suddenly tilted her head.

“Eh, what’s that sound?”

“Good man… today you must… give it all to me?”

Soft words murmured in his ear, soft jade and warm fragrance in his arms, old acquaintances suddenly reunited, youthful romantic past—even the most iron-hard, upright man would soften his heart because of this, melting into a puddle of spring mud beneath delicate fingers.

Lord Huang gradually fell silent. In the darkness, someone half-resisted and half-yielded. Low panting sounds and the friction of clothing mixed with a woman’s soft laughter—crisp laughter, tinged with small satisfaction. Listening carefully, that satisfaction carried a few degrees of cold calculation.

“Mm… good man…”

The lamplight had somehow completely darkened. Only above on the cliff wall was a faint yellow glow, like a secretive eye blinking.

Looking carefully, that yellow glow wasn’t lamplight but a hole faintly transmitting light. That light was above the entire Phantom Cave—a secret chamber.

In the secret chamber, someone watched events in various directions through mirrors mounted above the hole, letting out a soft laugh.

Pointing toward Ning Yi’s direction, they said, “Quite a romantic show, pity we must extinguish the lamps and can’t watch.” Then added, “That Xiao Mei is truly seductive to the bone. Under Meat Futon’s methods, she lives up to her reputation.”

In the secret chamber, a black-robed woman had been lazily trimming her nails. Hearing this, her elegant brows raised, saying coldly, “Chief Steward, have you forgotten the rules?”

“My mistake.” The previous speaker, Shuyu Manor’s front courtyard chief steward, smiled. “I forgot the young ladies’ taboos.”

“Since we’re cooperating, we should respect each other’s rules.” That woman took out an eyebrow pencil and small mirror, carefully applying makeup. “Otherwise when our master holds us accountable, it won’t be pleasant for anyone.”

“Yes.” The steward bent slightly, his posture humble, though his lowered face revealed a trace of mocking coldness.

Just a group of courtesans! Listen to that name—”Meat Futon”! Such goods, even if each possessed natural seductive charm and excelled at infiltration and intelligence gathering, couldn’t enter refined halls. Who knew what His Highness was thinking, placing such importance on people from this courtesan organization, repeatedly instructing they mustn’t be offended. Truly inexplicable.

And that so-called master—who knew who it was, constantly praised by this group of courtesans, worshipped like a deity, yet never even seen.

“I think he’s fallen into the trap.” The steward said, “Could this Lord Huang still have problems? Should we send someone down to resolve it?”

“Wait for Xiao Mei’s signal.” That woman leaned over for a look.

As they discussed, suddenly from within the hole came Xiao Mei’s startled cry!

In the darkness, Xiao Mei cried out in shock.

A cry full of disbelief.

Immediately followed by heavy panting sounds—not like passion, more like fury. Then Lord Huang’s scolding erupted.

“Where did you come from, you shameless woman! Full of nonsense and absurdity!” Lord Huang seemed in a towering rage, viciously grabbing Xiao Mei’s hair, pushing the half-undressed woman aside. “What Xiao Mei? When did Linglong Tower ever have someone like you? When did Hong Ru ever have such a close friend? What about her stealing your opportunity? Originally I was the one who chose her and insisted on selecting her! Which fox den did you crawl out of, shameless woman, coming to deceive me with lies?”

“Shameless woman—” Before he finished scolding, another storm arose. In the storm, Lady Huang came rushing forward, stomping through a cave full of splashing mud and water, instantly sweeping close. By the light from the bearer’s lamp behind her, she clearly saw everything ahead. Immediately her eyes blazed, hair standing on end. She pounced to tear at Xiao Mei’s face. “Where did this vixen come from? Seeking death—”

Xiao Mei hastily dodged. Lady Huang, seeing her clothes disheveled, grew even more furious. Her hands first gathered up the clothing so her husband wouldn’t see any spring scenery, only then grabbing her hair and wanting to unleash her piercing continuous invisible kicks again, once more being desperately dragged away by the bearers.

While struggling, Lady Huang scolded, “What’s wrong with your Shuyu Manor—a whole nest of ghosts and foxes! I’m going to find His Highness to judge this!”

Lord Huang coughed sternly, righteously rebuking the bearers. “How unreasonable! Insulting a scholar!”

While straightening his expression, pinching his wife’s small hand to soothe her: “Wife, don’t be angry. This husband has righteousness in his heart and naturally won’t be violated by these seductive women.”

While secretly pulling Xiao Mei, bringing his mouth to her ear: “Miss Xiao Mei, I heard my wife’s footsteps earlier and had no choice but to offend… please forgive me… you’ve been wronged… I know you truly like me. If my wife isn’t around later, you’re welcome to find me… Ow!”

The outwardly upright but inwardly lustful Lord Huang was viciously pinched by the exasperated Xiao Mei…

The couple made a scene for a while before being pacified, each taking a vine sedan. This time the journey was uneventful as they safely exited the cave. At the cave entrance, the manor’s inner courtyard steward received them, smiling as he apologized while leading them inside, saying with a smile, “The banquet is set in ‘Jade Reflection Hall,’ the manor’s most scenic location. Lord Xu and the others have already arrived. Though the manor’s furnishings are humble, there are some novel sights to view. Lord Huang and Lady Huang must enjoy yourselves tonight.”

He didn’t mention the cave incidents at all. Lord Huang also didn’t mention them, laughing jovially. Lady Huang followed for a few steps, looking somewhat awkwardly at her mud-dripping skirt. The steward glimpsed this from the corner of his eye, hesitated, then said, “Madam’s dress is soiled. Let a maid take you to a side room to change.”

He also didn’t mention the hot springs. Feng Zhiwei originally didn’t want to bathe in hot springs either—tonight she’d already gotten into bathing tubs twice. She didn’t want a third time. Just as she was about to agree, she felt Ning Yi lightly squeeze her palm.

Feng Zhiwei froze, using her peripheral vision to glance at Ning Yi. She discovered that though Ning Yi seemed to look straight ahead, his peripheral vision was also watching a certain direction, his eyes showing thoughtful expression. He slowly traced characters in her palm—two characters: “hot springs.”

He wanted her to try for the hot springs. Feng Zhiwei’s heart stirred, recalling that year when she had also traced characters in his palm, when they jointly faced powerful enemies at Shouyang Mountain in Longxi. Feeling slightly dazed, she then smiled. Turning to the steward, she said, “Earlier that bearer told me your manor has hot springs for bathing. Not only are my clothes dirty, my hair is also stained with mud. Attending the banquet like this would truly be disrespectful to the host. Could you see…”

The steward hesitated again, glancing toward a certain direction in the manor. After thinking, he summoned a maid, ordering her to help Lady Huang wash up, specifically instructing, “Go to the West Pool. Remember?”

The maid agreed. Feng Zhiwei’s eyes flashed—if there was a West Pool, there must be an East Pool. Why couldn’t she go to the East Pool?

“Husband, this humble wife will return shortly.” She took leave from Ning Yi according to propriety.

Ning Yi used Lord Huang’s face to look at her solemnly, yet his eyes drifted with laughter. Holding her hand, he carefully instructed, “The banquet comes later. Clean up a bit then come over.”

But the hand in her palm was writing: “If anything’s wrong, withdraw immediately. Safety first.”

“This humble wife understands.” Feng Zhiwei gently curtsied.

Ning Yi watched her like this, his eyes seemingly both joyful and regretful. Finally releasing her hand, Feng Zhiwei hurried away with the maid. Even after walking far, she could still feel that gaze, like silk endlessly clinging to her back.

Walking through multiple corridors and pavilions, Feng Zhiwei discovered the manor had few people but extremely many hidden sentries. And the women were indeed all beautiful—even the maid leading her had a willow waist and full hips, walking with swaying grace like a lotus in wind, extremely feminine.

Moreover, it seemed the hot springs were inside the manor’s interior. Continuing upward, there were fewer and fewer people. No wonder the steward earlier was unwilling to let her bathe in the hot springs. Those two bearers, after all, were outer perimeter guards who didn’t know the internal rules and casually mentioned the hot springs. The steward couldn’t refuse outright and reluctantly agreed.

Turning through a moon gate, facing them was a large expanse of white stone paving. At the white stone’s end stood a massive blue stone screen carved with rough yet vigorous craftsmanship depicting dancing dragons and phoenixes. The design was ordinary, only the dragons’ and phoenixes’ postures seemed somewhat strange. Feng Zhiwei’s first glance passed over it. Thinking again, she looked back carefully. Unable to help herself, her face flushed to her ears.

Where was this a dragon and phoenix dance design? It was clearly a dragon and phoenix mating design. At the four corners beneath the large design were faint male and female reliefs—all spring palace scenes in various poses.

Turned out these hot springs weren’t simply bathhouses, but intimate pleasure grounds for officials and nobles. Feng Zhiwei frowned. Thinking about bathing there, she instinctively felt a wave of disgust. Only now it was too late to refuse.

The palace maid pointed behind the stone screen where vines intertwined and steam gurgled, smiling, “Madam, please bathe here.”

Feng Zhiwei wondered why she didn’t warn which places couldn’t be visited, while turning behind the screen to see a hot spring about half a room’s size, emitting sulfur’s unique odor, steaming hotly.

Two maids followed in, staring fixedly. Feng Zhiwei calmly removed her clothes down to her undergarments. When that goose-yellow undergarment appeared, both maids’ eyes lit up, smiling, “This is the capital’s most recently popular color and style. Madam’s embroidery is especially fine. This way of wearing it is also special.”

Feng Zhiwei proudly thrust out her chest. “Pretty, right?” The two maids giggled, examining her body, exchanging glances.

Descending into the pool water, Feng Zhiwei only soaked briefly before calling the maids to bring change of clothes. Glancing once, she said dissatisfied, “What kind of clothes are these? Actually blue? Not only old-fashioned, they don’t match my complexion. No good. Change them, change them.”

The maids looked troubled. Feng Zhiwei cast them a sidelong glance and deliberately drew out her words. “Don’t tell me a grand prince’s villa can’t produce even a single presentable garment? I’ll go find your steward—”

“Please don’t.” The two maids hastily stopped her, thinking they’d heard Lady Huang was fierce and difficult—indeed so. One immediately went to change clothes.

After soaking a while, Feng Zhiwei caused another fuss. “Oh my, why is my body so itchy?”

The maid nervously came forward to look. Feng Zhiwei extended her snow-white arm. Indeed, her arm had somehow developed a dense layer of goosebumps, looking like an allergic reaction.

Some people unaccustomed to hot springs could develop skin discomfort—it happened. Just never seen this severe. The maid also panicked somewhat, hurrying to find backup medicine for Feng Zhiwei.

Sending both maids away, Feng Zhiwei immediately stood up.

She always felt this pool seemed a bit small, and that smell in the air seemed to exist elsewhere too. The East Pool should be nearby. Yet here seemed to reach the mountain wall’s end with no other pools visible. But given Shuyu Manor’s skillful use of mountain terrain and mysterious layout, there must be some mechanism.

She looked around, her gaze falling on the relief wall behind her.

After a long while, her face slowly reddened. In the hot spring’s rising mist, she was gorgeous as peach and plum blossoms.

“Damn fellow, giving me such a task…” Feng Zhiwei muttered. She had already seen where the mechanism was, but that mechanism… was truly too impossible to activate.

After a long while, she stamped her foot resentfully, draped on her outer garment, closed her eyes, and reached out to grasp the lower part of the relief. There was a pair of man and woman, bodies connected and dependent, without a stitch of clothing. The woman’s hand rested on the man’s chest. The relief was carved meticulously—all parts, including the couple’s spring-passionate expressions, were rendered in minute detail.

Eyes closed, Feng Zhiwei grabbed that woman’s hand and pulled.

Indeed it could move.

That hand moved downward… grasping a certain part of the relief man.

A series of grinding sounds.

Feng Zhiwei hastily released her hand, facing the opening mountain wall behind her, resentfully cursing, “Den of lust!”

Flashing inside the mountain wall, it closed. Indeed, behind was another world.

It was a larger hot spring, fully three rooms in size, built with white stone into sections large and small. The innermost one was largest and most refined, blocked by a long row of screens. Each section of hot spring was divided in the middle by wisteria—purpose unknown.

All around was white marble paving. The long corridor surrounding the hot springs had sandalwood double eaves. Inside the corridor were various paintings of nude women in spring palace scenes, countless times more refined and bold than outside. At that largest hot spring pool, following the mountain wall was carved a nude woman holding a vase. Hot spring water rolled and poured from the vase, falling into the pool, then circulating up from the pool bottom, never ceasing—extremely ingenious design.

Around that pool were scattered jade horses, beauty chairs and other male-female pleasure implements, also of extremely noble materials.

Feng Zhiwei’s eyes swept over, thinking this must be where the Second Prince sought pleasure with his concubines—nothing worth investigating. Moreover, there was currently no one around.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, she suddenly heard grinding sounds.

This was the sound of mechanisms activating. She thought her entry point had been discovered. Looking back, there was no movement. She then realized the sound came from the long corridor.

Then she saw the spring palace reliefs on the corridor all turn in unison. Faintly a robe flashed—someone was about to emerge.

Feng Zhiwei’s heart leaped in alarm. Retreating to her original place was already too late. Her body tilted backward, silently sliding into a small hot spring pool behind her.

In the pool happened to be wisteria blocking. She exposed half her head watching the corridor. She heard continuous delicate laughter, voices like floating ripples. From the corridor emerged women with thin gauze flying.

That woman was almost completely nude, only a silver-red transparent gauze wrapping her exquisite form. Faintly her skin was fragrant and creamy, her figure graceful—full bosom and willow waist fully visible. Her entire body was exposed to view, yet strangely her face was veiled—not to conceal her face, just for atmosphere. Nude body with veiled face created another kind of seductive allure.

Clearly a woman extremely skilled at flirtation, knowing how to utilize every method to maximize her seductive charm. Feng Zhiwei felt she looked very familiar. Looking again at the man embracing her waist, her heart thundered.

Emperor Tiansheng!

The old emperor wore casual robes, his eyes hazy, his cheeks showing abnormal faint redness. He looked at no one else, only the woman in his arms, breathing slightly rapidly as he caressed her waist.

In an instant, Feng Zhiwei understood why the Second Prince, despite consecutive defeats under Ning Yi, had never been punished—he provided the old emperor certain special services!

Emperor Tiansheng fancied himself an enlightened ruler. To gain the reputation of a sage sovereign, he had always been extremely concerned with his kingly reputation, conducting himself cautiously in the palace. Such dissolute, intimate places absolutely couldn’t exist. The consorts thought the sovereign didn’t favor women and each maintained dignified composure. They didn’t understand the emperor was old but his heart wasn’t, didn’t understand he actually had restless desires within. So they lost to a lowly-born dancing girl without knowing how they lost.

Women who understand men are the final victors.

Precisely because this father and son had this layer of “exposed” intimate connection, the old emperor would have misgivings. The pleasure ground the Second Prince provided must greatly suit Emperor Tiansheng’s taste.

Feng Zhiwei soaked in the water, not knowing whether from the soaking or the shock, her heart pounding. Now she had realized a life-threatening problem—Emperor Tiansheng looked like he came through a special secret passage. Since he came, security here would certainly strengthen. How would she get out later?

Stumbling upon other secrets was manageable. Stumbling upon Emperor Tiansheng’s secret like this—no one could save her!

Over there, Emperor Tiansheng and Consort Qing were being affectionate, completely unaware anyone was here. Their low, teasing voices carried over.

“…Beloved consort, why did you suddenly think to come here…”

“Your Majesty truly forgets noble matters…” Consort Qing’s coquettishly reproachful laughter seemed to lightly strike Emperor Tiansheng. “…This concubine said yesterday, just learned a dance… mm… it’s only suitable to perform here…”

“…I’ve been thinking about it for so long… little darling… your dance must be beautiful…” Emperor Tiansheng laughed lowly. “…Then we won’t notify Second Brother, sparing the need for reception and greetings… unable to accomplish anything…”

“This is for husband and wife… originally for marital bedroom pleasures…” Consort Qing seemed to look outside. “…Today the Second Prince hasn’t arranged guests to bathe in the hot springs here, right?”

Emperor Tiansheng also casually looked around. They had screens blocking on their side, so nothing was visible. Now the old emperor, rubbed and kneaded by Consort Qing until his face was red and heart heated, where would he notice anything? Laughing, he pushed her toward the pool. “There’s no one… little sweetheart… come… dance for me to see…”

Faintly came delicate laughter. But in that laughter, Feng Zhiwei heard the sound of robes carried by wind all around.

Even if Emperor Tiansheng came through an underground passage, he would certainly arrange guards. Only this matter was truly too secret—guards should be on the outer perimeter. Around these hot springs, hearing that wind sound, people were slowly closing in. If she didn’t leave now, she truly couldn’t leave.

Right now Emperor Tiansheng was being wild with Consort Qing and probably couldn’t attend to her. If she was going to go, it had to be now. Feng Zhiwei slowly rose from underwater, stepping on the hot spring pool’s edge to walk out.

“Ding!”

Suddenly a crisp sound!

The sound wasn’t loud, yet it startled Feng Zhiwei so her entire body trembled and froze. Looking down, she saw a golden bell. Must have been dropped by some official or noble playing here with a female companion. Yet at this moment, it was fatally stepped on by her and rang!

“Who’s there!”

Though low, this sound was already heard. Emperor Tiansheng hadn’t made a sound yet, but from behind the innermost pool’s screen came Consort Qing’s cold rebuke.

Feng Zhiwei’s thoughts raced, a thousand ideas flashing past in an instant, yet she felt those thousand ideas weren’t enough to withstand this situation.

She tensely watched that screen direction, preparing to force her way through.

Suddenly heard sounds behind her.

She turned around.

Her eyes suddenly widened.