Chapter 38: The Enchanting Shadowy Grand Preceptor

Lu Yihuan exited the palace, and the man waiting at the palace gates spotted her immediately. He hurried over without delay.

She glanced at the approaching figure. It was Li Ze, her trusted subordinate planted in the Du Mansion. Lu Yihuan halted her steps. “What is it?”

Li Ze bowed respectfully. He had been waiting here on Du Qingyuan’s orders, specifically to invite Lu Yihuan.

“Regent King, Minister Li, Minister Zhou, and my master are hosting a banquet tonight at Spring Intent Pavilion. They intend it as a celebration for the poor scholars from humble backgrounds who succeeded in this round of new promotions.”

Hah, a celebration.

A flicker of sarcasm crossed Lu Yihuan’s eyes.

She recalled that New Top Scholar. He had certainly endured quite the humiliations along the way.

At court, the tensions between the traditional nobility and these upstart scholars from common origins were on the verge of erupting.

That New Top Scholar was a son of the Du family. He had risen swiftly thanks to his father’s machinations and a recommendation from the Eldest Princess. Yet now, he was appearing at such a gathering. It was truly remarkable.

These “humble” new officials—no one could say if they still qualified as humble anymore.

Lu Yihuan had been about to refuse outright, as she always did. But just as the words reached her lips, she pressed them together. The teasing remark from earlier—that voice pressing against her chin—flashed through her mind.

She swallowed her refusal. With a slight nod, Lu Yihuan said, “Very well. Lead the way.”

She was actually going?

Li Ze acknowledged the order aloud, but a trace of shock slipped through his downcast eyes.

When he had still been serving at the Lu Residence, invitations poured in every day. Lu Yihuan rejected them all except those she could not avoid.

And now, she was heading to a place that was clearly meant for pleasure and indulgence.

Lu Yihuan’s arrival came as a shock not only to the messenger Li Ze but also to those waiting at Spring Intent Pavilion. They could hardly believe it.

They had extended countless invitations before, only to be rebuffed each time. Irritated as they were, they had no choice but to keep asking, time and again.

In the current political landscape, Lu Yihuan was the new faction’s most favored by the Emperor, wielding immense power.

Failing to invite her would invite gossip. But outright skipping the invitation? The consequences would be dire.

Though they had sent someone to extend the invitation, the group had already settled into their seats at Spring Intent Pavilion.

Now, as that figure in ink-black robes ascended the steps with measured strides, cool lashes sweeping over them, recognition hit the room like a wave. Some choked on their drinks; others shot to their feet.

In that short distance up the stairs, Minister Li, Du Qingyuan, and the others all rose from their seats and moved to the doorway to greet the arrival respectfully.

“Regent King.”

Lu Yihuan gave a faint hum of acknowledgment. She strode directly into the room, her gaze flicking casually over the assembled guests without lingering. She took the foremost seat.

Once seated, she did not initiate conversation. The others exchanged discreet glances. In the end, it fell to Du Qingyuan to speak, as his subordinate had been the one to bring her.

Well, she had essentially accepted their invitation handed to her on a platter.

“Regent King, Spring Intent Pavilion has prepared various entertainments today. Is there anything to your liking?”

Spring Intent Pavilion operated under strict rules tailored to nobles and wealthy merchants. Every room was private, concealing the city’s underbelly of vice.

Beyond that, the pavilion offered daily programs—songs, dances, storytelling—all fresh novelties unavailable elsewhere, performed by professionals specially trained for the purpose.

Even impoverished families went to great lengths to place their children here. Whether serving tea or otherwise, there was always the chance of catching a noble’s eye.

They used every scheme to snag a perch on a high branch.

Du Qingyuan detailed the day’s lineup. Lu Yihuan listened without responding. Instead, she turned slightly toward Minister Li, the primary organizer of this event.

“Minister Li, you organized this gathering, and this king is merely a guest. Do not let my presence spoil everyone’s enjoyment. Proceed as originally planned.”

She then waved Du Qingyuan away, signaling him to step back.

He hesitated for a moment, eyes fixed on Lu Yihuan. She leaned lightly against the back of her chair, her gaze cool and detached. His hand at his side clenched nervously once or twice.

Now seemed the perfect moment to present the gift his father had instructed him to offer her.

Everyone in the room had seen Li Ze—their own man—successfully escort her here. Moreover, Lu Yihuan showed no signs of disdain toward him, despite his past associations with the Eldest Princess.

Many of the new officials were present. If he succeeded in this gesture, his future would soar.

Noticing that Du Qingyuan lingered before her without leaving, Lu Yihuan suppressed a surge of contempt. Earlier at Jiang Li’s side, she had knocked him down a peg. Now, she would see what this New Top Scholar intended to do.

If he dared…

The next instant, as he proffered a long, narrow gift box, Lu Yihuan’s suspicions were confirmed. She glanced up at the man—whose spot on the high list stemmed from the Eldest Princess’s recommendation—and watched as her hunch proved right.

It really was, hah.

Her lips pressed into a thin line. She lifted her eyelids just enough, fixing a cool stare not on the gift but on Du Qingyuan himself.

As her expression darkened, a heavy silence fell over the room. All eyes darted between Du Qingyuan and the box extended from his hand.

Would Lu Yihuan accept it, or refuse?

The entire gathering held its breath for the answer. Sweat beaded at Du Qingyuan’s temples.

Surveying the room, Lu Yihuan noted how half the attendees were now silently rooting for the Du heir. What biting irony.

Thump, thump, thump…

She tapped the arm of her chair rhythmically. Her eyes remained calm, betraying nothing of her thoughts.

She glanced at the proffered box. The tapping continued as she said flatly, “This king just came from the Eldest Princess’s Palace, discussing this round’s new promotion list.”

“And Du, the Top Scholar, was recommended by the Eldest Princess herself.”

With that, Lu Yihuan fell silent.

The sweat on Du Qingyuan’s brow gathered into droplets, sliding down to dampen his sideburns. Under the crowd’s stares, he withdrew the gift box into his robes with considerable embarrassment.

Those words had ripped away the truth Du Qingyuan had long avoided mentioning.

Recommended by the Eldest Princess, he belonged to the noble faction.

Lu Yihuan had no interest in competing with the Eldest Princess over him.

The atmosphere grew awkward. It was Minister Li—the one who had initially backed Du Qingyuan—who stood and smoothed things over.

He coaxed Du Qingyuan back to his seat with a few words and exchanged pleasantries with Lu Yihuan, easing the tension.

“Now that everyone has arrived, I will have the program start.”

Minister Li glanced again at Lu Yihuan in the seat of honor. Receiving no objection, he called for the attendants waiting outside.

As they waited, a flash of red silhouette darted past the doorway.

Hm?

Lu Yihuan caught sight of the fleeting figure—slender and graceful. The side of her face struck a chord. Lu Yihuan’s fingers stilled on her sleeve cuff, and her eyes narrowed slightly as she pondered.

Why would she be here?

Lu Yihuan’s own visit had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. This woman appeared quite familiar with the place, judging by her attire. No…

She smoothed her sleeve casually and asked, as if offhand, “Minister Li, who in Spring Intent Pavilion wears a red gauze skirt?”

Minister Li saw nothing suspicious. “It’s your first time here, Regent King, so you’re unfamiliar with the place. Everyone wears colors specific to their role. The red gauze skirts denote the pavilion’s top dance girl performers.”

The top dance girl…

Unsure why she had brought it up, Minister Li probed, “Would the Regent King like to watch one of the pavilion’s dances?”

Lu Yihuan waved him off, though her curiosity about the red figure burned hotter. She swept her gaze over the room, noting everyone’s tense, fearful expressions.

“This king has urgent business shortly and must take her leave. Please, carry on without me.”

With those words, she rose and departed the room, following the direction the red silhouette had vanished.

The group inside exchanged bewildered glances, at a loss for her intentions. She had come swiftly and left just as abruptly.

But with her gone, speculation was pointless. The Regent King’s enigmatic thoughts were beyond their reckoning.

“Very well, let us continue,” said Minister Li.

Meanwhile, Lu Yihuan trailed after the red figure until she collided with a young attendant from Spring Intent Pavilion.

Noticing the expensive ink-black robes, the attendant apparently feared punishment and began kowtowing frantically, begging forgiveness.

“No harm done.”

Eager to find that figure, Lu Yihuan spared little thought for it. She merely glanced at the attendant’s face before brushing past.

The attendant continued kowtowing even after she left, only raising a trembling head once her figure vanished entirely.

The resentment in that gaze stood in stark contrast to his fearful facade.

Looking down at the nearly spent incense in his hand, he smiled with satisfaction.

“Regent King, please enjoy the delights of Spring Breeze Incense here in Spring Intent Pavilion.”

The attendant lingered a moment longer. When another passed by, they slipped away together around the corner.

As for Lu Yihuan, hurrying after the red figure, she soon sensed something amiss.

Her body temperature spiked rapidly. Within moments, she lifted her wrist and felt the heat spreading there, her usually cool skin now burning.

Worse still was the desire surging from within.

In an instant, her mind flashed to the attendant who had bumped into her.

Damn it!

Her eyes sharpened with fury, dark clouds roiling in her depths. Lu Yihuan hadn’t anticipated that her impulsive visit would give someone this opening.

She didn’t know the drug’s source, but it hit viciously hard.

In mere moments, dizziness clouded her vision, and her steps grew unsteady.

Find a room. Find a room…

Clinging to her iron will, Lu Yihuan forced her expression to remain composed. She stumbled onward, seeking a hidden spot in the pavilion.

If she could hold out long enough, someone would come looking for her.

Another wave of vertigo hit. Lu Yihuan shook her head, hoping the faint breeze would cool her, but it did little.

“Who’s there!”

Someone seized her wrist and pulled her forward swiftly. Lu Yihuan’s lashes fluttered, her body tensing in vigilance. But a moment later, her shoulders relaxed.

It was the very person she had been seeking.

The red-clad beauty offered no reply. She hurried Lu Yihuan around a bend and into a room.

She pushed her inside, locked the door meticulously, then turned to assess Lu Yihuan.

One look—and Jiang Li found herself captivated by the sight on the couch.

Tch. Who could have imagined the renowned Regent King Lu appearing like this after falling victim to an aphrodisiac?

The cold detachment she had shown in the palace earlier had vanished, replaced by unwitting desire.

In short order, Lu Yihuan had loosened her collar. The snow-pale lines of her collarbone lay boldly exposed, now flushed with a telltale red from the drug.

The restraint etched on her face was utterly enticing.

Pain furrowed her brow. Her pale lips bore teeth marks from biting back. Red bloomed across her cheeks, and sweat had dampened stray locks of her usually neat hair.

Jiang Li stepped closer, murmuring admiringly, “My lord, you look truly beautiful like this.”

The desires roiled relentlessly within her. Lu Yihuan’s palms clenched so fiercely they threatened to break skin, leaving deep imprints.

She knew full well about the flush overtaking her face, the heat spreading to her neck and collarbone. Even the hair she tidied so meticulously each morning was now clinging damply to her cheeks.

Lu Yihuan recognized her own disheveled state.

Waves of lust crashed over her unceasingly—and now this woman stood by, commenting on the show.

A surge of humiliation rose inexplicably in her chest. Lu Yihuan bit her lower lip to stay calm. She shot Jiang Li a cold, withering glance.

“Shut up.”

She knew full well whose doing this was—and who she had sought out.

Your Highness, the Eldest Princess.