The maid laughed as she pointed behind the stone screen where the vines were intertwined, and the hot air steaming in the air, “Madam, please bathe here.” 

Feng Zhi Wei silently wondered why the maid didn’t remind her of where not to go as she walked around the screen to see a steaming hot spring that occupied about half of the room, emitting the unique smell of sulfur. 

Two maidservants followed Feng Zhi Wei in, staring intently at her. Feng Zhi Wei undressed in a matter-of-fact manner until only her inner garments were left. Both maidservants’ eyes lit up upon seeing the goose-yellow halter top and praised, “This is the color pattern that is popular in the imperial capital lately. Madam, the embroidery on this halter top is exquisite, and the manner of wearing it is also unique as well.” 

Feng Zhi Wei proudly puffed out her chest, “Pretty, isn’t it?” The two maids smiled cheekily, sizing up her body and exchanging glances with one another. 

Walking into the water, Feng Zhi Wei only soaked for a short time before telling the maid to bring the change of clothes to her. Taking one glance at the clothes she immediately complained, “What kind of clothes are these? And it’s actually green in color? Not only does this not match my skin color but it will also make me look old. This won’t do, bring me something else.” 

Seeing the reluctant expression on the maid’s face, Feng Zhi Wei looked at her askance and said in a long voice, “Could it be that not a single decent dress could be found on a prince’s property? I’ll go find your chief steward…” 

“Don’t.” The two maidservants promptly stopped her. Thinking inwardly that it is said this Madam Huang was tough and difficult to deal with, that has certainly turned out to be true. 

Not too long after one of the maids left to change out the clothes, Feng Zhi Wei started complaining about something else, “Ah! Why am I so itchy?”

The maid came forward nervously to look at Feng Zhi’s outstretched snow-white arms. Sure enough, a layer of dense red bumps covered her arms, looking as if she was having an allergic reaction. 

It is not uncommon for certain people who are not used to hot springs to have skin discomforts but the maid has never seen a case this serious. A bit panicked, the maid hastily went off to find some medicine for Feng Zhi Wei. 

With both maids out of the way now, Feng Zhi Wei immediately stood up in the hot spring. 

She kept feeling the pool seemed a bit small. Moreover, that sulfur odor seems to be elsewhere as well. That east pool should be nearby but this place seems to have reached the end of the mountain wall with no other pool in sight. Still, with Shuyu Villa’s mysterious layout, surely there is some mechanism in play again. 

She looked around, and her eyes fell on the carved wall behind her. 

After a while, her face slowly turned red, and in the steaming mist of the hot spring, her blushing red face was as lovely as a peach blossom. 

“That jerk, giving me such a task…” Feng Zhi Wei muttered. She has already spotted where the mechanism was…but it is too…too difficult to reach out a hand to open it. 

After a bit, she stomped her feet resentfully, put on an outer robe, closed her eyes, and reached out her hand to hold the carving’s lower area. A woman and man are carved below, their body connected, completely naked, the woman’s hand caressing the man’s chest. The carving was exquisitely carved, all the parts, including the expression of passion on the two people, were clearly shown. 

Keeping her eyes closed, Feng Zhi Wei grabbed the woman’s hand and pulled. 

Sure enough, it could be moved. 

The hand went down…and grasped the carved man’s certain place. 

There was a continuous rolling sound. 

Feng Zhi Wei promptly let go of the carved hand, and vehemently cursed at the mountain wall behind her, “Shameless!” 

The mountain wall closed behind her after she entered. As she guessed, there was a whole other cave area behind it. 

It is a larger hot spring, as big as three houses. It is built with white stone grids, some are large and some are small. The innermost one is the largest and most exquisite, blocked by a long row of screens. Each of the grids is also divided by a purple wisteria plant for some unknown purpose. 

All four sides were paved with white jade flooring. The long corridor is filled with all kinds of nude carvings of women, more exquisite and bold than those outside by a hundredfold. In the innermost hot spring, carved into the mountain wall is a naked woman holding a jug. The hot spring water came flowing down from the jug, dropping into the pool before cycling back up from the bottom, never-ending, cleverly designed. 

Various toys made of high-quality material especially designed for couples’ intimate play surrounded the pools. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s eyes took a quick sweep of the surroundings, thinking to herself that there was no need to investigate this area further since this must be the pleasure place for second prince and his concubines. She was about to turn and leave when she suddenly heard the rolling sound again. 

Hearing the sound of the mechanism, Feng Zhi Wei thought perhaps the place she came from had been discovered. However, she saw no movement when she turned to look behind her and then realized the sound came from the long corridor. 

She then saw the carvings on the long corridors turning, someone was about to come out. 

Feng Zhi Wei’s heart jumped. It was too late to go back the way she had come so she could only lean her body backward and noiselessly slip into the small hot spring behind her. 

Thanks to the purple vines separating the pools, she was able to stick out the top of her head to look down the long corridor. A tinkling laughter came as a woman wearing sheer chiffon came walking out. 

The woman was nearly naked with only a transparent red sheer chiffon around her curvy body. Voluptuous breasts and tiny waist could clearly be seen, yet she was wearing a veil over her face. Of course the veil was not there to cover her face. It was simply a way to add to the seduction– a naked body with a hidden face, it has a sort of different allurement. 

This was obviously a woman extremely skilled at the art of seduction, knowing how to use all means to add to her charm. Feng Zhi Wei felt the woman seemed familiar, and then when she took a look at the man who had his arm wrapped around her waist, her heart roared in shock. 

Tiansheng Emperor!

The old emperor was wearing a casual robe, his eyes looked blurry, with an abnormal red blush on his cheeks. With eyes only for the woman in his arms, his breathing was slightly fast as he caressed her waist. 

In an instant, Feng Zhi Wei understood why Second Prince always got off lightly with the emperor despite suffering multiple defeats at Ning Yi’s hands– he provided some special service to the old emperor!

Tiansheng Emperor regards himself as a wise heroic ruler. To gain fame as a virtuous ruler, he usually pays very close attention to his reputation as the emperor, he is especially careful with his actions in the palace and would never show his face in wanton places such as this. The imperial consorts believe the emperor is not one who cares too much about carnal pleasures and all try to act dignified. Little do they know, the emperor might be old in body but not in heart. Their lack of understanding that the old emperor actually had a very wanton heart caused them to lose to a lowly dancer and still have no idea how they lost. 

Only the woman who understands men is the final winner. 

It was only because of this bonding of “unveiling” between the father and son, that gave the old emperor some wariness (concerning how he treats Second Prince). Looks like the old emperor is quite pleased with this entertainment place provided by Second Prince. 

Soaking in the water, Feng Zhi Wei’s heart started pounding. By this point, she had thought of a fatal question– Tiansheng Emperor appeared to have come through a special secret passage. Since he came, there must be increased security. How is she going to get out later?

It’s fine if she chanced upon other people’s secrets, but if she chanced upon Tiansheng Empror’s secrets especially one such as this, then no one can save her! 

Over there, Tiansheng Emperor and Concubine Qing are busy being lovey-dovey with one another, with nary a thought that someone else might be there. Low teasing laughter came floating in. 

“…beloved, why did you suddenly think of coming here…”

“Your Majesty, you have forgotten…” Concubine Qing giggled, and seemed to hit the emperor lightly, “…didn’t I say yesterday that I learned a new dance…well…it is only fitting to dance here…” 

“… I have been thinking about it for a long time…little darling…your dance must be beautiful…” Tiansheng Emperor chuckled, “…then I won’t tell second (prince), so as to avoid all those tiresome greetings…and leave no time for other things…”

“This is for couple pleasures…” Concubine Qing seemed to look out, “…Second Prince didn’t arrange for any guests to take hot spring baths here, did he?”

The emperor also took a causal look around. They were covered by a screen and couldn’t see anything. By this time, the old emperor was all excited from Concubine Qing’s busy hands to notice anything. Giving her a push towards the pool, the emperor said, “No one…my darling…come…dance for me…”

There was a vague burst of tinkling laughter. In the middle of the laughter, Feng Zhi Wei could hear some rustling sounds. 

Even if the emperor came in from the underground tunnels, he must have guards around. Of course this thing is done in utter secrecy so the guards are probably outside around the hotsprings. However, judging by the sounds coming from all directions, guards are slowly surrounding this place. If she doesn’t leave this place now, then she really won’t be able to. 

Tiansheng emperor and Concubine Qing should be too busy fooling around to notice her so the time to leave is now. Feng Zhi Wei slowly floated up and started to walk outward in the hot spring pool. 

*Ding*

There was suddenly a crisp *ding* sound!

The sound wasn’t loud but it made Feng Zhi Wei stop in shock. When she looked down, she saw a golden bell. It must’ve been left behind by some nobleman and his female companion when they were having fun here, but she had made the fatal action of stepping on it!

“Who’s there!”

All text copyright @ www.Ninja-Reflection.com

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