Chapter 2, in search of fragrance and exploring the depths.

"You have offended me, hmm?" A hint of amusement seeped into Emperor Dingxi's voice, the final tone slightly rising, tugging at Tingyou's sense of shame, causing a sharp pain. "I will consider your first offense; the death penalty can be avoided, but the living punishment is hard to escape. Since you have offended me, how about I also offend you in return?" Emperor Dingxi particularly slowed down his voice on the words 'offend.' His breath brushed against Tingyou's neck, making her feel both numb and tingling, unable to help but squirm, thinking to herself that this emperor is too shameless and lewd, capable of uttering such crude words, despite being well-versed in literature and history, and having read the classics and sage writings.

The Empress Dowager sighed, and deep down she understood that the Emperor intended to embarrass her; it was merely a coincidence that Ting You happened to be present. "Enough, enough, it is not easy for you either. I shall have to put on this old face and ask the Emperor to grant you a title."

The thumb continued to caress ambiguously, and Ting You felt her body growing softer, her breathing becoming rapid. Although Ting You was unfamiliar with such matters, she was not ignorant. Among the masters that the old lady had invited for her, there were several courtesans, and she had read quite a few of those secretive little booklets.

The pavilion was filled with a sense of both shyness and anger, as she recalled the old matron's words of admiration during her examination, and remembered the herbal concoction that the old lady had her soak in daily, along with the medicine pouch that needed to be changed every three days

"Ting You doesn't feel wronged either, as there will be another selection next year," Ting You said shyly

Your clothes are wet, I will have someone bring you a new set, hmm?" Emperor Dingxi's one hand firmly gripped Tingyou's waist, while the other hand reached for Tingyou's corset, poised to untie it at any moment.

Emperor Dingxi's hand was just resting at the lower edge of her chest, his thumb intentionally or unintentionally brushing against her softness, which was quite vexing. If he were to truly grasp it, it would have been better, as it would provide her with a "surprised" excuse to evade the situation. Tingyou felt that his gradual approach, akin to a whale swallowing a minnow, was truly ungracious.

In the Dongnuange, Empress Dowager Jing held her breath, feeling unrelieved. Today was the grand court assembly, and since the emperor had not returned after the morning session, it was natural for him not to come. However, after waiting for quite a while, no eunuch had come to announce the edict. This not only embarrassed the recently favored Tingyou but also disrespected Empress Dowager Jing.

Ting You was taken aback; his recovery speed was astonishingly fast, and moreover, this posture, this posture was rather...

After such an internal struggle, Ting You instead felt a sense of relief. She opened her eyes to gaze at Emperor Dingxi's captivating peach blossom eyes, struggling to rise and anxiously said: "This humble woman has offended Your Majesty; she deserves to die."

Seeing that Emperor Dingxi was not taking action, she had no choice but to support herself on the bright yellow cushion and prepare to rise. Even if Emperor Dingxi did not speak formally, she still had to maintain her composure

"Your Highness, this is absolutely unacceptable." Ting You raised her head anxiously, her eyes rimmed with red, looking quite pitiful. Had she not guessed the Empress Dowager's intentions, she would not have endured countless difficulties to resist the temptation of the bed, enduring the pain to come here and kneel on the floor.

"Call out, and I shall be gentler," Chu Ke kissed Ting You's lips, erasing the bloodstains she had bitten.

Ting You called for a bucket of hot water and, when she submerged her entire body beneath the surface, she let out a comfortable sigh. On her first journey, the room could hardly be described as pleasurable, especially with the gluttonous nature of Emperor Dingxi, which left Ting You with nowhere to express her grievances

Only then did Ting You's hand touch his belt, and he said to her with a hint of teasing: "How is it that you are nurtured here? In this palace, apart from Lady Lan, no one can compare to you"

One should not make things difficult for oneself, especially since Emperor Dingxi is indeed putting in effort. Even Tingyou's patience is wearing thin. After a short while, feeling the pain lessen somewhat, she finally released her grip on Emperor Dingxi's back. However, unexpectedly, she was given another slap on her rear, "Relax a bit; I have not finished yet."

The tone rises at the end, this is a question. The rule in the palace is that when the Emperor asks a question, one must respond.

Having easily cleared the obstacles, Emperor Dingxi slightly raised Tingyou's hips and entered. Tingyou felt a sharp pain and let out a sound; although Emperor Dingxi had prepared well for her, it was after all the first time, and there would inevitably be the pain of breaking the melon. The subsequent merciless thrusts forced Tingyou to cling tightly to Emperor Dingxi.

After taking a comfortable hot bath and covering the marks on her neck with a powder puff, Ting You then re-applied her makeup and went to the Empress Dowager's East Warm Pavilion to apologize

Such struggles will only cause the prey to sink deeper, and the prey, Tingyou, is no exception

Ting You finally understood; this person was simply teasing you. What do you mean by being able to push him away? Ting You, in anger, pushed Emperor Dingxi again, but unexpectedly, he took the opportunity to pull and lift her, swiftly pulling down her undergarments with one hand and wrapping her legs around his waist.

In the dim pavilion, I call out, "Oh God, why do you not pounce upon her and devour her? This would spare her the dilemma of being torn between choices, feeling self-reproach and shame. Why must you torment her in this way, grinding down her sense of shame to nothing?"

"Is it really going to end like this? Wouldn't that be unfair to you?" In her heart, Empress Dowager Jing had already come to agree with Ting You's words, feeling that she was understanding of the overall situation and the bigger picture. The anger she had previously felt towards her had now completely dissipated.

Ting You bid farewell to the Empress Dowager, and did not dare to linger too long in the palace, as the carriage went directly to the Jing residence. It is unknown what the Empress Dowager later discussed with Emperor Dingxi, but Ting You's one night of passion with him seemed to have truly become a fleeting spring dream, leaving no trace and causing no ripples. Presumably, the Empress Dowager suppressed that news to preserve the dignity of the Jing family

Such panic, such struggle, such grinding and rubbing, Tingyou indeed sensed the discomfort beneath her bottom.

However, he holds the power over life and death, while she, being timid and fearful of death, has no choice but to yield, allowing him to manipulate her in every conceivable manner, showcasing his myriad skills.

The Empress Dowager nodded, which could be considered an agreement; after all, this formal recognition was merely a matter of time. Yesterday, she had instructed Sui'er to lead Tingyou to the Imperial Garden, hoping for a chance encounter between Emperor Dingxi and Tingyou to deepen their impression of each other. However, she never anticipated that the Emperor would act so recklessly.

Ting You closed her eyes and recalled the words of the old lady before her departure. To put her words plainly, Ting You, your body has not yet fully recovered, you must avoid any harm to it. Moreover, what cannot be obtained is the best; you must find a way to keep the emperor's appetite intrigued.

Ting You opened her eyes wide, feeling that this was beyond human endurance. She could only sense that Emperor Dingxi's body had grown heavier, forcibly transforming the bud that was about to bloom into a splendidly blossomed night-blooming cereus.

Ting You sighed softly, wondering how it was raised, suggesting that one should try drinking milk with a mouth full of fishy flavors every day

Ting You was so furious that her hands trembled, yet she still had to respectfully say: "Yes." Her voice was hardly louder than that of a mosquito

As soon as Tingyou entered, he noticed that Empress Dowager Jing's expression was not good, so he gently approached her and said, "Your Majesty, may you be in good health"

"It must have hurt a bit before, but it won't be that painful this time." Chu Ke embraced Ting You from behind, allowing her to lie on the kang, supporting herself with her hands on the kang table

In that case, you should not linger in the palace any longer. Next year, during the selection, I will naturally strive for a good title for you. The Empress Dowager decisively made her decision; she no longer hoped for Emperor Dingxi to send someone to issue a decree, but rather feared that he would come to announce it. In such circumstances, it was akin to an ordinary palace maid attending to the emperor, at most receiving the title of a low-ranking beauty.

The Empress Dowager gave a glance, and Aunt Song then instructed the palace attendants to withdraw. Only then did the Empress Dowager speak, "You, how could you... Did the old lady not teach you? By behaving this way, are you not belittling the Emperor?" If it were an ordinary girl, it would be acceptable, but Tingyou was someone entrusted with great expectations by the old lady and the Empress Dowager, how could they not feel disappointed.

Sui'er held the makeup box in her hands and went out to fetch hot water to assist her with her grooming. The young girl did not ask a single unnecessary question, no wonder the Empress Dowager was surprisingly at ease allowing her to do this.

Ting You was silently seething with anger, ignoring Emperor Dingxi as he took her apron to wipe the mud from between her legs

The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, as if questioning why.

Ting You felt as if her heart had died upon seeing her name being teased in such a manner. She wanted to shout out loud, "If you want to do it, just do it; why say so much nonsense?" However, before her thoughts could fully scatter, she was bitten on the snowy tip through her belly wrap, causing her body to tremble, and she felt a surge of warmth beneath her, breathless.

"You are truly flexible." Emperor Dingxi added a remark by Yu'er in a way that only fueled the fire, indeed infuriating beyond measure.

Emperor Dingxi of the Chu dynasty gazed at the person in his arms, noticing her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue, her eyes shimmering like autumn waters, her breath quick and urgent. Her pristine white teeth bit into her red lips, making those petal-like lips appear as if they were about to drip with honey. Yet, her eyes were truly amusing, looking at him with a mix of shyness and anger, as if pleading for him to push her away. However, she presented herself in a manner that was irresistibly alluring, as if inviting him to pluck her, which was indeed a contradiction of the highest order

That person actually mumbled while saying: "You can still push me away now, otherwise I might have to seek out hidden pleasures."

At that moment, Tingyou questioned herself; why should she obediently listen to the old matriarch's words? She simply did not want to cater to Emperor Xi's tastes, hoping that he would grow weary of her instead.

The man's breath lingered by her ear and neck, and Tingyou felt her body weaken to the point of almost dissolving into a puddle. It was as if she had been longing for this since the dawn of creation, yearning for such hands to caress her. Deep down, Tingyou felt a sense of embarrassment, yet she could not control her reaction. Tingyou self-deprecatingly thought that the potion brewed for her by the old lady had finally taken effect.

Ting You was both annoyed and angry, well, she didn't even bother with pleasantries, directly wanting to "get straight to the point." Ting You struggled slightly, wanting to stand up, but she heard Emperor Dingxi whispering in her ear: "I heard from Mother Empress that you will also participate in the selection next year, hmm?"

Ting You tightened her legs, and indeed felt his fingers slowly probing down, neither hurried nor anxious, as if he were leisurely enjoying the scenery. Ting You was annoyed; why couldn't he be more straightforward? Did he have to be so tormenting? She exerted force to push him away, but saw his lips and teeth take the opportunity to bite off her belly band, causing two snow-white mounds to burst forth. Not to mention him, even she felt embarrassed just looking at it.

"Do not be anxious, first untie my belt, then remove my garments," Chu Ke said with a smile, taking Ting You's hand and reaching towards his waist.

Once again, the tone rises at the end, as her fingers playfully tease the silk ribbon like a butterfly flitting among flowers, yet remaining perplexed, gently and slowly urging her for a response

If one is determined to investigate, they will naturally uncover the reason why Tingyou happened to encounter Emperor Dingxi in the Imperial Garden. The rumors that the Empress Dowager instructed her own niece to seduce the Emperor are rather unflattering

When Tingyou opened her eyes again, it was already bright outside. Emperor Dingxi had long since disappeared without a trace, and only Sui'er was outside, softly saying: "Miss, may Sui'er come in to attend to you?"

Chu Ke gazed at the skin on Ting You's shoulders, which appeared particularly radiant and luminous under the light. As his fingers glided over it, it felt as if he were touching soft cheese, smooth, delicate, and tender. Among the many beauties of the imperial harem, he had never encountered skin so exquisite.

Ting You knelt on both knees, tears welling in her eyes, and with a face full of grievance said: "Ting You does not lack understanding, but the Emperor..." Such words, once spoken halfway, are enough. Whoever the Emperor favors, who can resist? Moreover, Ting You was originally meant to be sent to the palace. Furthermore, it is Empress Dowager Jing who placed her on the chopping block, yet now she blames the meat for not resisting the butcher's knife.

Upon returning to Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Jing looked at Tingyou with a sense of disappointment, seeing her in a listless state. The visible red and purple marks on her neck could not be concealed, which only fueled her anger further. She waved her hand, instructing her to go and tidy herself up.

Ting You walked quietly to the Empress Dowager's side, "Ting You knows that the Empress Dowager cares for me, but Ting You cannot compromise the Empress Dowager's dignity due to my own indiscretions. If it were to be known that Ting You entered the palace to attend to the Empress Dowager's illness while being with the Emperor... not only would it tarnish the Empress Dowager's reputation, but it would also undermine the Emperor's authority"

However, no matter what, it is merely a difference between entering the palace early or late. Tingyou sometimes cannot help but indulge in wild thoughts; if she did not have this face, would the old lady still treat her so well? Yet, despite the old lady's kindness towards her, she remains resolute in sending her into the palace. No matter how much she cries or makes a scene, even if she resorts to fasting, it cannot change the old lady's decision.

Thereafter, the old matriarch said that the conflict between the Empress Dowager and Emperor Dingxi had become increasingly intense, and that being caught between the two made it difficult for her to navigate the situation. It would be better to take a step back and embrace a broader perspective. However, this time the Empress Dowager insisted on having her enter the palace, and the old matriarch could not refuse, which is why she sent Tingyou to handle the matter first.

"What are you still dawdling for? Help me undress," declared Emperor Dingxi, as he unceremoniously slapped the rear of Tingyou.

The pavilion sighed deeply, wishing that the sky would never brighten again. Enduring the pain, she got up and put on a new set of clothes that had been laid on the kang, and only then did she call in Sui'er to attend to her.

At this moment, Chu Ke's fingers were not slow; he effortlessly unfastened Ting You's corset and clothing, exposing half of her snow-white shoulder.

The pavilion's quietness supported her body as she still indulged in the "delusion" of making a "dying struggle." However, her chest unexpectedly rose high due to this movement, which indeed caught the attention of Emperor Dingxi. His fingers slowly caressed the peak, and he smiled, saying: "This truly deserves to be called jade-like and graceful."

After a while, the clouds dispersed and the rain ceased. In the quiet of the pavilion, Tingyou could only hear Emperor Dingxi whispering in her ear: "Indeed, you are a natural beauty, no wonder..." His fingers were teasing the petals of Tingyou's flower.