Chapter 23 Taming - Romantic Affairs Even if it's just playing around, playing around is still better than just playing...

Gu Shanyue withdrew her gaze from him, lightly pushed off the eaves with her toes, turned around and flew into the hall like a swallow in the rain. Amid the sound of the guards drawing their swords, she flew straight into the main hall.

Li Yuheng, flustered and confused, chased after them inside, and the guards rushed in as well.

In the center of the main hall, Gu Shanyue stood silently, while on the high platform, Emperor Yong's face was unfathomable.

The guards surrounded Gu Shanyue, all drawing their swords, yet none dared to approach.

Even though Gu Shanyue simply stood quietly, without drawing his sword, Wu Gou, no one dared to make a move.

"Sister," Li Yuheng called out, then realized he had lost his composure and looked at Emperor Yong, "Father."

Emperor Yong raised his hand and waved it, and the guards retreated silently like flowing water, leaving only Li Yuheng and Gu Shanyue in the hall.

"You've trespassed into the palace; you're far too arrogant," Emperor Yong said, his voice unreadable.

Gu Shanyue's lips twitched: "So what? What are you anyway, that you're not worth my attention?"

The disdain in her tone startled Li Yuheng.

How could the emperor not be furious if such words were spoken to him?

As expected, the golden cup was thrown to the ground, and the amber-colored wine splashed everywhere.

Gu Shanyue leaped lightly, changed position, and her clothes remained dry.

Emperor Yong roared, "Insolence!"

Gu Shanyue narrowed his eyes slightly: "Li Zhi, don't put on airs like an emperor. If I were to kill you, it would only take your head in an instant."

Li Yuheng's eyes widened in shock, and he was speechless for a moment. He was stunned by Gu Shanyue's act of calling Emperor Yong by his given name, yet he also felt that it was the right thing to do.

Gu Shanyue had no concept of imperial power; apart from her mother and him, everyone else was no different from rotten wood to her.

Even the Emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty.

Thinking about it this way, Li Yuheng felt a sense of indescribable satisfaction.

The imperial power that everyone else frantically pursues is insignificant in Gu Shanyue's eyes, but she values ​​him above all else.

Emperor Yong was silent for a long time before he spoke: "Your temperament really hasn't changed over the years."

"Change what? Change it into one of your knives?" Gu Shanyue's voice was cold and sarcastic.

Li Yuheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Sister, please don't misunderstand."

"What misunderstanding?" Gu Shanyue's gaze swept lightly over him, landing on Emperor Yong's face on the dragon throne. "Old man, how can you be as shameless as you were back then?"

Li Yuheng: "..."

Emperor Yong, still in his prime: "..."

"You are still too arrogant," Emperor Yong sighed calmly, a long-lost look on his face. He didn't even throw the golden cup anymore, but instead raised a cup of wine. "In any case, I have wronged Ayu. I toast you with this cup of wine."

A eunuch quickly stepped forward, carrying a golden tray with a cup of wine, and presented it to Gu Shanyue.

Emperor Yong raised his cup on the high platform. Gu Shanyue glanced at the cup, picked it up casually, and drank it all in one gulp under Li Yuheng's worried gaze.

Emperor Yong's eyes flickered slightly, and he also raised his cup and drank it all, praising, "Excellent!"

Gu Shanyue toyed with the golden cup in her hand, then looked up at Emperor Yong: "Did you poison him?"

She was always so straightforward. Li Yuheng was startled and looked at Emperor Yong. He then quickly helped Gu Shanyue up: "Sister, are you feeling unwell?"

“She is Ayu’s junior sister, I will not touch her,” Li Yuheng breathed a sigh of relief, but Emperor Yong said again, “Heng’er, women need to be tamed, you are still too young.”

Li Yuheng sensed something was wrong, and upon seeing the faint blush rising on Gu Shanyue's clear face, he instantly understood Emperor Yong's meaning.

“Father…” He was shocked, never expecting that this would be a tactic used by the ruler of a country.

"conquer?"

Gu Shanyue brushed Li Yuheng aside, stood firmly, extended two fingers, and quickly struck a point in front of him, the last point landing on his throat.

She spat out the wine again.

"Incompetent fools, you think you can conquer me with these low-level tricks? How laughable."

Gu Shanyue wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and gave a soft sneer.

"You...you're not even more powerful than Ayu, are you?" Emperor Yong lost his composure for the first time, revealing an expression of disbelief.

“Of course my senior sister is more powerful than me. If she doesn’t want to, you can’t get close to her,” Gu Shanyue said, her eyes showing a hint of disgust and sadness. “It’s not that you conquered her, but that she gave you the right to get close to her.”

Emperor Yong was speechless. His previous understanding was overturned, and he was once again lost in his memories of the past.

"Unfortunately, you don't deserve her trust."

Gu Shanyue casually crushed the golden cup, threw it at his feet, and turned to leave.

Li Yuheng stood there, watching her tall figure disappear into the night outside the courtyard.

Just now, he had felt a moment of secret joy. But he knew her better than his father. Gu Shanyue was like a gust of wind; to reach out and grab her was a pipe dream.

Only by making the wind willingly turn back can one gain her favor.

Gu Shanyue left the main hall feeling unlucky. She knew today would bring nothing good, but she never expected to hear Li Zhi's words again, which really disgusted her.

She had only taken a few steps when someone stopped her again: "Miss Yue, Miss Yu requests your presence for a chat."

Gu Shanyue ignored her completely, but a palace maid blocked her way: "Please, Miss Yue, don't make things difficult for me."

Gu Shanyue asked impatiently, "What is there for me to talk about with her?"

Despite saying that, she still followed the palace maid to the side room, where, unexpectedly, there was another familiar face besides Yu Jingshu.

Nanxing, dressed in theatrical costume and makeup, was singing softly. Upon seeing Gu Shanyue arrive, her singing became even more melodious and beautiful, like that of a nightingale.

Gu Shanyue glanced around the room, and Yu Jingshu greeted her: "We've been waiting for you, Miss Yue. I've been so eager to see you."

She reached out to grab Gu Shanyue's sleeve, but Gu Shanyue pulled his hand away: "Speak your mind."

"Why are you in such a hurry, Miss Yue? Why don't we sit down and chat while we listen to the opera?" Yu Jingshu looked at Nanxing with a meaningful glance.

Gu Shanyue glanced at Nanxing, then frowned slightly and sat down.

Yu Jingshu's eyes lit up with joy as she personally served Gu Shanyue more wine and dishes.

"Where is this?" Gu Shanyue asked.

“This is my aunt’s palace,” Yu Jingshu said. Gu Shanyue had no idea who her aunt was, but she must have been a concubine in the palace. No wonder she could move around freely in the palace.

"Miss Yue, you saved me on our first meeting, so I toast you." She poured wine and offered it to Gu Shanyue.

Gu Shanyue stared at the glass of wine, her nose twitching slightly. She then looked at Yu Jingshu and couldn't help but smile, quite speechless.

"Why are you all using me like a pill-making furnace, pouring all sorts of medicine into my mouth?"

The emperor is like this, and now Yu Jingshu is like this too. Does he really think she's made of dough?

Yu Jingshu's expression changed drastically, and her hand trembled, spilling the wine.

"Miss Yue, from whom did you hear this rumor? You've misunderstood me..."

As she spoke, her eyes subtly swept over the people around her, as if she knew someone had betrayed her.

"No need to look, no one has informed on us." Gu Shanyue took the glass of wine from her hand and examined it closely.

Yu Jingshu was surprised that she was exposed so easily. Belatedly, she became nervous and glanced at the sword at Gu Shanyue's waist, fearing that Gu Shanyue might attack in anger.

"I've been wandering the martial world for many years, and you use such pointless methods to deal with me?" Gu Shanyue raised his eyes and stared directly at Yu Jingshu.

Yu Jingshu's eyes trembled, and her fingers trembled slightly as she forced herself to remain calm and asked, "What do you want?"

"What do I want?" Gu Shanyue found it boring. "I should be the one asking what you want. What kind of wine is this? It smells disgusting."

Yu Jingshu dared not speak. Nanxing's singing had stopped at some point. Her face was covered in dark ink as she stood stiffly, at a loss for what to do.

“It’s fine if you don’t want to say,” Gu Shanyue said, grabbing Yu Jingshu’s chin and pouring the wine into her mouth. “I’ll know once I try.”

A maidservant tried to step forward, but Gu Shanyue flicked her finger, and an empty cup flew out, hitting the maidservant on the forehead. The maidservant collapsed, and no one dared to approach again.

Seeing the maid's fate, Yu Jingshu shook her head in fright, saying, "I'll talk, I'll talk!"

Gu Shanyue moved the wine glass away, pinched her chin, and raised an eyebrow in a gesture.

Yu Jingshu swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she said, "It's... an aphrodisiac..."

She said it as if she felt ashamed, her face turning red.

Gu Shanyue gave a nonchalant "Oh," glanced at the wine glass in her hand, and said with disdain, "Another aphrodisiac? Why do you all love using this trick?"

Having received the answer, Gu Shanyue casually shoved Yu Jingshu aside. Yu Jingshu collapsed onto the table, falling into the food and drinks, her clothes soaked in liquid.

She had never been so disheveled since birth.

The person who made her so miserable was Gu Shanyue, the person favored by the Crown Prince, and someone Gu Shanyue had never even paid attention to.

Even though she was afraid, seeing Gu Shanyue's nonchalant attitude, Yu Jingshu couldn't help but feel annoyed: "Aren't you afraid?"

Gu Shanyue didn't understand: "What are you afraid of?"

"If I succeed, you will have to sleep with this actress today, and then His Highness the Crown Prince will find out... Aren't you afraid?"

Yu Jingshu stared intently at Gu Shanyue's face, her eyes filled with resentment.

The more composed and nonchalant Gu Shanyue appeared, the more it seemed that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake her in the slightest.

Gu Shanyue glanced at the cowering Nanxing, recalling Emperor Yong's words, and casually said, "It's just another romantic affair."

Yu Jingshu was stunned for a moment, her anger subsided slightly, and a sad look appeared between her brows: "For a man, it is a romantic affair, but for a woman, it is a withered flower."

Gu Shanyue was surprised and pressed, "So what if they're withered flowers and fallen willows?"

Yu Jingshu thought Gu Shanyue was deliberately making fun of her, but upon closer inspection of Gu Shanyue's expression, she realized she was genuinely puzzled.

"No matter whose daughter she is, whether she is a noble lady or a commoner, once she becomes a withered flower, she will be ridiculed and bring shame to her entire family. She will also find it impossible to find a good husband, and her life will inevitably end in a hasty manner, like a flower falling into the mud, never to be able to lift her head again."

Yu Jingshu originally intended to scare Gu Shanyue, but in the end, she couldn't help but sigh.

Because this isn't a scare tactic, it's the truth.

Gu Shanyue breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

"With the Immaculate Sword in hand, no one can harm me. As for the rest, they are nothing but dust on the sword, which can be easily brushed away."

Yu Jingshu was stunned, taken aback by her nonchalant tone. How could she be so dismissive of such a big matter?

"Aren't you afraid of what others will say and spread rumors? Once you have a stain on your record, even the most incompetent street urchin can criticize a young lady from a prestigious family. Aren't you afraid?"

Gu Shanyue chuckled and patted the snow-white sword: "With Wugou unsheathed, whoever dares to speak ill of me, I will cut off their long tongue."

Yu Jingshu was taken aback and sat there blankly, her mind reeling from her words.

What surprised her most was that Gu Shanyue's words actually made sense.

Gu Shanyue seemed to have no reason to be afraid. She possessed enough power that others feared her.

At this moment, some of Yu Jingshu's deep-rooted ideas suddenly loosened.

Even withered flowers and fallen willows, a woman's reputation doesn't seem so important. As long as she possesses the same powerful strength, she can inspire fear in others. Any strong shackles imposed on her seem to become fragile and easily broken. The mountains of the past are nothing more than stumbling blocks.

What she needs is not to follow the rules in every word and deed, but power.

Yu Jingshu fell into deep thought. Gu Shanyue shook the remaining half-cup of wine in her hand, looked around, and waved to Nanxing in the corner.

Nanxing was terrified, but dared not disobey, and stepped forward cautiously to bow: "Miss..."

Gu Shanyue handed him the wine and commanded, "Drink."

Nanxing was so frightened that his hands trembled. He looked at Gu Shanyue hesitantly, but Gu Shanyue showed no mercy. He grabbed Nanxing's face and forced him to drink the wine.

Nanxing's legs went weak and she fell to the ground. The medicine worked very quickly. Nanxing's face was red, and she groaned softly as she frantically pulled at her clothes and crawled toward Gu Shanyue's legs.

Gu Shanyue rested his elbows on the table, observing Nanxing's reaction.

Aphrodisiacs can make people want to have sex, but isn't sex a matter of yin and yang and the natural order of things? Parents have sex to give birth to children, and everyone comes from this.

If that's the case, why did intercourse become a symbol of male conquest and a mark of shame for women in the mouths of the emperor and Yu Jingshu?

She had only ever seen male birds humbly courting, never seen them arrogant because of it, and had never seen wild dogs and birds in the mountains feel ashamed because of mating.

People are strange, and those in the imperial city are even stranger.

Gu Shanyue kicked away Nanxing's hand that was clinging to the tip of her shoe, left the mess behind, and got up to leave.

She's going to verify this.

Gu Shanyue stepped out of the palace gate, ignoring the palace maids and guards surrounding her, and leaped out of the encirclement.

She flew swiftly, startling everyone in the palace, but Gu Shanyue paid no attention.

Finally, as it passed the prince's carriage, Qi Baitong was just then.

Before Gu Shanyue could speak, he seemed to sense something, and when he looked up, he was facing Gu Shanyue flying towards him.

Gu Shanyue smiled and reached out her hand to him. Qi Baitong looked bewildered, but still took her hand.

"Come with me."

Gu Shanyue pulled her along, and Qi Baitong followed beside her, and the two of them flew out of the palace.

Countless imperial guards glared at her, but Gu Shanyue didn't care at all, and no one stopped her.

For the first time during the day, Qi Baitong looked down at the imperial city from his feet. From this angle, the imperial city no longer appeared majestic and imposing, but rather square and layered, like a closed little box.

The wind whistled past his ears, and Gu Shanyue wore a genuine smile.

Qi Baitong noticed that her mood seemed to have improved.

"Girl, where are we going?"

"Go anywhere you like," Gu Shanyue replied casually, her tone relaxed.

"But," Qi Baitong couldn't help but ask, "aren't you supposed to accompany His Highness the Crown Prince?"

“He never wanted me to stay with him in the first place, so why should I stay in this annoying palace?”

Gu Shanyue clicked his tongue, shook his head, and sniffed the air.

The air here is humid, which makes it a nice place.

Gu Shanyue landed with the lacquered white tung tree. Amidst the dense forest, flowers were in full bloom, water vapor swirled, and a clear spring emitted a faint warmth—it was a hot spring.

Before Qi Baitong could ask any more questions, Gu Shanyue was already tugging at his clothes.

However, this garment was not as simple and convenient as her usual clothes; the belt had many buttons, and it was impossible to pull it off easily.

Gu Shanyue frowned, looked at Qi Baitong, and said with her head held high, "Take it off for me."

Qi Baitong's slightly drooping eyelashes lifted, as if the heat from the hot spring was so intense that it caused his pale face to flush slightly.

He calmly replied, "Okay."

Gu Shanyue looked around, found a large rock to sit on, put her hands behind her back, looked at the bubbling hot spring behind her, and casually spread her legs with her toes swinging.

He appeared completely relaxed, comfortable, and unguarded.

Qi Baitong slowly walked out, knelt on one knee between her legs, and reached out his hand. Gu Shanyue raised her chin to make room for his hand.

Qi Baitong's fingers trembled slightly as he pinched the pearl clasp around her neck.

Fortunately, Gu Shanyue didn't pay attention to his actions. She was looking at the hot spring, which was surrounded by beautiful flowers that should have withered in autumn but whose blooming period was extended by the warm water vapor.

Only then did Qi Baitong have the opportunity to quietly calm her breathing and steady her movements, slowly unfastening the tightly packed pearl buttons from her throat to her chest.

As her elaborate palace attire loosened slightly, and Qi Baitong's hand moved to her lower abdomen, Gu Shanyue suddenly pressed down on his hand.

Qi Baitong's eyes flickered for a moment, then she quickly regained her composure: "It was my fault for offending you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Gu Shanyue stood up and used both hands to peel off the upper part of her palace dress, which had already been undone, as if a butterfly had emerged from its cocoon.

She wore only a thin undergarment, casually brushing off the hairpins and ornaments from her head. Her long, black hair cascaded down, brushing against the stiff palm of the white-lacquered paulownia tree, like a playful bird flitting by, causing a slight tickle.

As the steam rose, the thin undergarment quickly clung to the skin, revealing glimpses of the skin underneath; it couldn't hide anything.

Gu Shanyue kicked off her palace attire and looked at Qi Baitong, who was still kneeling on one knee on the ground, motionless.

"Why are you still kneeling?" Gu Shanyue asked, puzzled.

Qi Baitong lowered his eyes and didn't look at her, his voice hoarse: "If you want to soak in the hot spring, I'll go outside and keep watch."

After he finished speaking, he was about to get up when a fair hand pressed down on his shoulder.

Gu Shanyue leaned down, his long hair falling down, and a faint scent of hibiscus brushed past his nose, seemingly intoxicating him as if in a dream.

She was so close to him, close enough that he could feel her body temperature and her fragrance.

“Miss…” Qi Baitong called out to her subconsciously, but did not know whether to plead or do something.

"You'll soak with me," Gu Shanyue demanded bluntly.

Qi Baitong suddenly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning.

But Gu Shanyue's gaze remained indifferent, even less enthusiastic than his own.

"Girl, do you know what you're saying?" Qi Baitong's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Stop talking nonsense and come with me."

Gu Shanyue seemed impatient and grabbed him by the collar, heading towards the hot spring.

Qi Baitong, tall and imposing, offered no resistance as the slender figure before him grabbed him by the collar. Gu Shanyue led him to the hot spring like a docile wolfhound.

She sat on the bank, kicked off her shoes, and dipped her fair feet into the spring water. The water was warm, and she nodded in satisfaction.

Turning around, Qi Baitong was still standing blankly beside her, dressed neatly in black, wearing leather arm guards and boots.

Gu Shanyue kicked, splashing water all over Qi Baitong.

She said, "Take off your clothes."

Qi Baitong's eyelashes trembled slightly as she looked into Gu Shanyue's clear eyes. Her lips moved slightly, but she ultimately said nothing, silently removing her protective gear and outer garment.

Gu Shanyue raised an eyebrow, thinking that given his personality, she would have to force him to take off his clothes one sentence at a time.

It seems unnecessary.

Soon, Qi Baitong stripped down to her undergarments, revealing a lean and powerful body covered with well-defined muscles. The moisture from the undergarments made her chest and abdomen rise and fall dramatically.

As he took off his clothes, Gu Shanyue's eyes did not flinch at all; she stared straight at his movements.

Even without looking at her, Qi Baitong could still sense her gaze lingering on his arm, his waist, his legs...

She was looking at him, or rather, she was admiring him.

Once this thought arose, it was impossible to suppress. The inner guard, who could walk through mountains of corpses and seas of blood without changing his expression, could not control his facial expressions at this moment, and his body was extremely stiff.

The thought of her watching him made it impossible for him to act naturally.

"Not bad," Gu Shanyue suddenly praised.

Was she praising him?

Qi Baitong's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at her.

In the misty air, the thin undergarment was almost invisible, offering no protection whatsoever.

Gu Shanyue looked at him calmly, not caring about her posture.

But Qi Baitong couldn't ignore it; his ears instantly turned bright red, and he looked away.

"Come here," Gu Shanyue called to him.

The white tung tree is always obedient.

He walked over, knelt down obediently, and was a head taller than Gu Shanyue who was sitting. His neck was slightly lowered, and his muscular back was covered with scars, like a silent and fierce leopard bowing to her.

Gu Shanyue raised her hand and placed it on his neck.

With his most vulnerable point under control, Qi Baitong's body tensed up. He tried to suppress the instinctive aggression ingrained from years of training, and kept his face down.

Even now, he still doesn't understand what Gu Shanyue wants to do.

Perhaps we should kill him?

That's fine too, but I'm afraid it will dirty her hands.

Her heart pounded, but Qi Baitong's mind felt as if it had sunk into icy water, a stark contrast between a clear-headed numbness and a burning physical reaction.

As for other possibilities, he never thought about them, nor dared to think about them.

But the hand that was hovering around his neck didn't tighten its grip. Instead, it flipped its fingers and slipped inside his collar, sliding down inch by inch until it fell off his thin undergarment.

The soaked undergarment was no longer light and airy; it fell with weight, hitting his leg with a "smack".

And that hand landed on his chest, pressing down like a cat, with a hint of curiosity.

Qi Baitong's pale face was now flushed, his breathing was no longer steady and became heavy and rapid, and his back was slightly hunched, like a wild beast poised to pounce at any moment.

Yet, his dark eyes, though seemingly filled with overwhelming emotions, revealed only the slight trembling of his long eyelashes at the corners of his eyes, a testament to his extreme self-control.

Are you shaking?

Gu Shanyue noticed this, stopped exploring, flipped her wrist, pinched his chin, and lifted Qi Baitong's always lowered face.

His pale, handsome face was flushed red, no longer displaying his usual stoic and aloof demeanor. Veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were bloodshot, yet his gaze towards her held a hint of pleading.

Gu Shanyue didn't understand.

Qi Baitong looks like Nanxing under the influence of drugs, but seems to have better control over herself than Nanxing.

"You were also drugged with aphrodisiacs?" Gu Shanyue asked, tilting his head.

"...Aphrodisiac?" Qi Baitong's expression changed drastically, his eyes sweeping over Gu Shanyue, his words already carrying murderous intent, "Someone drugged you? Who was it?"

"I'm fine. That kind of stuff can't even affect me." Gu Shanyue sneered, recalling her absurd experiences in the palace.

"and you……"

Qi Baitong was eager to know Gu Shanyue's condition, so he crawled forward on his knees. Gu Shanyue's hand, which was on his chin, slid back and almost cupped his face.

His bare side brushed against Gu Shanyue's damp undergarment on her thigh, and both of them were slightly startled.

Gu Shanyue glanced at her, unconcerned, and then asked, "You look like you've been drugged. Has someone drugged you?"

"No."

Qi Baitong's voice was muffled, and he lowered his eyes in embarrassment.

His body was right in front of Gu Shanyue, and every emotional reaction he made was impossible to hide.

He had no Chinese medicine, but Gu Shanyue seemed to stimulate his nerves more than any medicine could.

He couldn't control it all.

"That's good. It's better to do these things when you're clear-headed," Gu Shanyue said to herself. Seeing Qi Baitong hanging his head like a puppy, she finally remembered to ask for his opinion, "What do you think?"

"I..." Qi Baitong raised her eyes slightly, but did not look at Gu Shanyue's face. Instead, she stared at Gu Shanyue's dangling legs and said in a muffled voice, "I don't understand what you want to do, Miss?"

Gu Shanyue replied simply, "I want to have intercourse with you."

Qi Baitong shuddered and suddenly looked at Gu Shanyue.

Gu Shanyue's eyes were clear and bright, and her face had a faint blush from the steam of the hot spring. She was as beautiful and radiant as a warm jade born from the spiritual energy of the spring water, with a clear mind and elegant features.

The words that came out of his mouth were so surprising that people couldn't believe their ears.

"You...you...and me..."

Qi Baitong clutched the soaked hem of his clothes, his face flushed, and he stammered, unable to utter the word "intercourse" that Gu Shanyue had casually uttered.

His eyes flickered, glancing at her once before looking away, completely like a naive young man experiencing his first love.

Gu Shanyue found his reaction amusing; she had never seen Qi Baitong like this before.

She pinched Qi Baitong's cheek: "Is that not allowed?"

"Of course... it's possible." Qi Baitong stammered even more after being pinched.

"I knew you wouldn't refuse me," Gu Shanyue laughed.

Qi Baitong was so close to her that their undergarments were completely soaked, and they were almost naked.

Qi Baitong dared not look anywhere, let alone at her face, for fear that if she looked at her even once, she would make herself look even more ugly.

He turned his head to look at the steaming hot spring.

"You want to go down?"

Before Qi Baitong could answer, Gu Shanyue put his arm around his back and pulled him into the spring.

The warm spring water enveloped my body, the sound of the flowing water was subtle, this was a living spring.

Just as Qi Baitong wiped the water droplets from his face, Gu Shanyue shook his head, splashing water all over his face again.

Qi Baitong's lips curled up slightly.

He didn't understand how all of this was happening, but he felt a surge of unprecedented joy.

She might be playing around, but even if she is, playing around with him is better than playing around with others.

"Girl, we..."

Gu Shanyue saw Qi Baitong's face getting redder and redder, even his chest was a large red patch. She pushed him forward and pressed him against the stone wall of the spring.

Qi Baitong was speechless, his chest heaving violently, his abdominal muscles tensing. Feeling her supple body pressed against him, he couldn't help but tremble slightly, his entire neck going numb.

Gu Shanyue pressed herself against him, looking up at his uncontrollable emotions, her eyes filled with confusion.

"We haven't even had intercourse yet, how come you seem to have already been tamed?"

Qi Baitong's mind was churning like boiling water. Before him was Gu Shanyue's flushed, sweaty face, just within his reach to kiss.

They were so close, like a real pair of mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined.

Qi Baitong struggled to clear his mind of the images and asked, "What do you mean by taming?"

Gu Shanyue answered honestly, "They said that Yu'er can tame me through intercourse. I want to try it and see if this thing really has the power to tame others."

Aside from absolute power, one can tame a master simply by the union of yin and yang.

How is that possible?

Gu Shanyue neither understood nor believed it, but it seemed that everyone was convinced of it, so she wanted to try it herself.

As for the candidates, among the men in Shengjing, only Yu'er and Qi Baitong were pleasing to her eye.

Yu'er is a junior, and Qi Baitong has always been obedient, so he is naturally the most suitable.

Gu Shanyue was still leaning against Qi Baitong. Leaning against him was much more comfortable than leaning against the hard stone wall, but after she finished speaking, Qi Baitong's originally hot body suddenly stiffened like a stone.

"What’s wrong with you?"

Gu Shanyue looked up. The color had not yet faded from his face, but his expression was as shaky as a candle flame about to fall, casting many shadows.

"Is all of this because of His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Qi Baitong's voice was hoarse, as if uttering those words had exhausted all his strength.

Gu Shanyue thought for a moment and said, "I guess so."

Qi Baitong fell silent, like a frozen sculpture. Even in the hot spring, the flush on his face turned pale inch by inch, as if he had suddenly suffered a life-threatening acute illness.

Just moments ago they were on cloud nine, but now they have fallen into the abyss, smashed to pieces, and died without a sound.

He finally understood what Gu Shanyue meant by those words.

She said he resembled someone.

He didn't understand before, but now he does.

He resembles that prince.

Did His Highness the Crown Prince break her heart, so she came to find him?

He should be happy, shouldn't he? He's gotten a good deal, so why is he acting all innocent? But why is his heart like a frozen wasteland, with only the desolate north wind ravaging it?

He should have realized long ago that if it weren't for this similarity, he wouldn't have received the moon's favor.

Qi Baitong's face turned pale, and he looked distraught.

Gu Shanyue asked, puzzled, "What's wrong with you?"

Qi Baitong raised his hand, gently placed it on her shoulder, and pushed her away, slowly but firmly.

He hadn't dared to touch her at all just now, or even look at her, but now he was gazing at her calmly.

He said, "Girl, no."

"What's wrong?"

Gu Shanyue was pushed away in a daze. The sound of water was faint. There was an arm's length between them. She could see the turbulent waves in his eyes.

"We can't..."

Qi Baitong opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and almost rough.

It turns out that rejecting her is so difficult.

His fist, hanging in the water, was clenched so tightly it almost broke his palm, and he finally managed to say those words.

"You can't do something like this without feeling; I can't."

Upon hearing this, Gu Shanyue lowered his head.

A moment of silence.

Qi Baitong gazed at the top of her head, where tiny water droplets glistened in her dark hair.

He pursed his lips, somewhat regretting that his words had been too direct, and wanted to say something to take it back.

Gu Shanyue raised her face first and repeated, "Can't you do it if you can't feel anything?"

Qi Baitong nodded gently: "Mm."

Gu Shanyue pointed to his lower abdomen, her eyes clear: "I've taken a closer look, and you seem to have a lot of feeling for it."

Qi Baitong was stunned. After realizing what Gu Shanyue was pointing at, her face turned as red as a burning cloud, and she almost jumped out of the water.

Amidst the splashing water, Gu Shanyue's face remained innocent.

Qi Baitong hurriedly and awkwardly covered herself, turned halfway to the side, and whispered, "No."

He was a tall and strong man with excellent martial arts skills, yet she forced him into this situation, which was like a scene from a play where a young man was forcibly taken away.

Gu Shanyue was certainly not that kind of person.

She thought for a moment and then said, "I understand."

She took two steps back, pressed her palm against the edge of the hot spring, and left without hesitation.

The pale-faced zither, which had been huddled in the corner like a mushroom, looked at her from the corner of its eye, then reached out and grabbed her dripping sleeve.

Gu Shanyue turned around: "What is it now?"

Qi Baitong pursed her lips: "Where are you going?"

Gu Shanyue patiently explained, "If you don't feel anything, I'll go find someone who does and try."

After saying that, Qi Baitong fell silent and motionless, as if she were frozen in place.

Gu Shanyue didn't intend to pay attention to him. Anyway, she was going to give it a try today. Since Qi Baitong was unwilling, she would find another one.

Just as she was about to leap out of the hot spring, Qi Baitong held tightly to her sleeve and wouldn't let go.

"What are you doing?" Gu Shanyue asked, puzzled.

Qi Baitong remained silent. When she turned around, she was startled.

The pale, handsome man, his hair and eyelashes damp, gazed at her with his lips pursed.

"Those aren't tears on your face, are they?" Gu Shanyue asked tentatively.

Qi Baitong sniffed lightly, her voice hoarse: "Don't go looking for anyone else."

Gu Shanyue was completely dumbfounded.

But Qi Baitong in front of him was still crying. Although it looked like Gu Shanyue had made him cry, Gu Shanyue had no idea what he had done.

"Why are you crying?" Gu Shanyue asked.

Qi Baitong didn't answer her question, but only asked, "Are you still leaving?"

After a moment's thought, Gu Shanyue made a heartfelt promise: "I'll leave after you stop crying."

Qi Baitong: "..."

Gu Shanyue: "Why are you crying even more?"

Qi Baitong slowly approached her in the water, pulling back the distance he had just pushed her away, even getting closer.

"If you absolutely have to try, then let me try it."

He restored the distance and posture they had initially shared, looking down at Gu Shanyue with a deep and sorrowful gaze.

Gu Shanyue remained silent.

Fearing she might go looking for someone else, Qi Baitong took her hand and placed it on his chest, letting her feel his rapidly beating heart.

He knew that no matter how close they were, it didn't mean anything. He knew that in Gu Shanyue's eyes, he was nothing.

Even so, his body and heart still couldn't help but pound with excitement at her approach.

"girl……"

He called to her with the earnestness of a person dying of thirst calling for water.

Gu Shanyue sighed: "I really don't understand what you're thinking."

One moment he's like a chaste and virtuous man, refusing to leave no matter what, and the next he's hugging her and begging her not to go.

Are all men this strange?

"girl……"

“Alright,” Gu Shanyue agreed.

Before Qi Baitong could even catch her breath, she was startled and gasped when Gu Shanyue reached out with her hand.

He instinctively flinched, but Gu Shanyue clicked her tongue and glared at him, saying, "What's wrong with you now? If you keep gossiping, I really won't talk to you anymore."

Qi Baitong pursed his lips, a hint of pitiful youthful stubbornness in his expression.

“It doesn’t have to be like this,” he said, encircling Gu Shanyue’s wrist and pulling her hand away from his. He coaxed her gently, “How about I serve you, Miss?”

It turns out he wasn't trying to cause trouble. Since he volunteered, he must have some good ideas.

Gu Shanyue graciously granted his request: "Then come on over."

Qi Baitong carefully grasped Gu Shanyue's waist and led her against the stone wall.

Their eyes met, and he was so nervous that his jaw twitched slightly. But Gu Shanyue's eyes were clear and bright, and looking at him like that made him feel ashamed of his own fervent desires.

She didn't like him, he thought to himself.

He then turned his face away, refusing to look into her eyes or take off her clothes.

He simply leaned down and, through her transparent undergarment, gently kissed her shoulder with his thin lips.

A pale face flushed a vibrant, damp red in the steamy air, as if the person was drunk, their breath hot.

He kissed her, like a person covered in mud with only a clean mouth.

Only lips and tongue are worthy of touching her.

Gu Shanyue looked at him, and he knew that Gu Shanyue was looking at him.

So he closed his eyes, but his thick, dark eyelashes trembled incessantly. Gu Shanyue raised his hand and placed it on his shoulder, causing his abdominal muscles to twitch instantly.

With just that little bit of strength, he seemed to be going crazy, sinking himself to the bottom of the water.

Gu Shanyue was startled: "You..."

Before she could finish speaking, Qi Baitong leaned in again, her eyelashes tightly closed, her long hair fluttering in the water, her pretty, rosy face like a spirit submerged in the water, waiting for the moonlit night to emerge and devour the soul of the human girl.

Gu Shanyue was speechless.

Before his mind went blank, Gu Shanyue's last thought was, "So this is his brilliant move."

That's really impressive.

No wonder so many people are addicted to this; it really is exhilarating.

Gu Shanyue used to not understand why martial arts masters would kill each other for a woman or turn against each other for a man, but now he seems to understand a little.

At this moment, if someone were to take Qi Baitong away, she would probably draw her sword.

The hot spring water is so hot that it makes you feel like you're floating on air, and your waist and body feel numb and tingly.

Qi Baitong buried himself underwater in a reckless manner, holding his breath. If Gu Shanyue hadn't pulled him out, he probably would have suffocated there.

Qi Baitong wiped the water off his face, his usually cold and handsome face flushed red, his chest heaving as he breathed heavily, but beneath his wet eyelashes, his dark eyes stared intently at Gu Shanyue.

"Girl, do you...like it?"