In Cloud Emergence Palace.
Lin Tianjiao reclined on her cloud-soft daybed, idly swirling a teacup.
"Lan Zhu, did you notice anything strange today?"
Lan Zhu's eyes lit up. "I was waiting for you to ask, Miss. This afternoon Grand Tutor Xiao came running in a panic, saying Young Master had been taken away by Consort Yun and was in danger. Yet when we dragged His Majesty over ready to catch her red-handed, the boy was perfectly fine. This servant is completely confused."
Lin Tianjiao frowned. "Grand Tutor Xiao was Father's sworn brother—he wouldn't raise a false alarm. Consort Yun definitely intended harm at first. Something must have happened in between. 'Tutoring Ninth Highness'? Only His Majesty would swallow that excuse."
"But Miss," Lan Zhu lowered her voice, "did you see how Consort Yun personally saw Young Master off at the door? That woman is proud as a peacock. She would never lower herself like that unless…"
Lin Tianjiao's fingers tightened around the cup until the porcelain creaked.
"I don't care what tricks she pulled. As long as Feng'er is unharmed, I let it slide. If a single hair on his head is hurt, the Lin family ends with him—and I will bury every last person responsible."
Lan Zhu."
She exhaled slowly. "Are we really sending him to War Tiger Academy? The place is a meat grinder. I'm worried he won't survive the hazing."
"The Lin family breeds no cowards," Lin Tianjiao said coldly. "A little tempering is exactly what he needs. If we don't push him now, how will he ever carry our banner later?"
Lan Zhu hesitated. "Still… the Young Master has changed so much these past two days."
"You felt it too?" Lin Tianjiao's eyes sharpened. "Tell me."
"I can't put my finger on it. He used to be wooden—you could talk till your tongue fell off and he'd barely answer. Now his eyes are alive, his words smooth as oil, and he actually has ambition. It's… unsettling."
Lin Tianjiao nodded slowly. "Dead pond turned into a living spring overnight. Either my nephew has been hiding his true self all these sixteen years… or the knock to his head knocked something new into him."
She stood. "Tomorrow you'll come with me to War Tiger Academy. It's time I paid respects to Father's old comrades. Feng'er's future comes first."
Meanwhile, across the dark palace…
Lin Feng was burning alive.
He vaulted silently over his courtyard wall and ghosted through moonlit corridors like a starving wolf, destination locked: Western Moon Palace.
"Who goes there?" A patrol's challenge snapped him out of his lust-fogged daze.
"Lin Feng."
"…Toothache. Can't sleep. Taking a walk."
The guards exchanged looks. Midnight strolls for toothaches?
Before they could question further, a soft, amused voice floated out of the shadows.
"Dismissed, all of you. I have medicine for toothaches."
Consort Yun stood beneath a lantern, golden hair loose over her shoulders, thin sleeping robe clinging to every lethal curve.
The guards bowed and vanished.
Lin Feng cupped his fist with exaggerated courtesy, eyes already glued to the deep valley revealed by her loosened collar. "Many thanks, Consort Yun."
She stepped close, voice a conspiratorial whisper. "You've got some guts, sneaking here in the middle of the night. Tired of living?"
"Ever since this afternoon, my head's been full of Your Ladyship. If I don't see you, I really might not want to live." His voice was low, rough with want.
Consort Yun's breath hitched—she hadn't expected him to be this direct.
"You're insane," she hissed, then raised her voice for any lurking ears: "Follow me. I have medicine for that toothache."
Lin Feng practically trotted after her swaying hips.
She didn't take the main paths. Instead she led him through side corridors, avoiding patrols and sleepy maids, until they slipped inside her fragrant bedchamber and latched the door.
The second the latch clicked, Lin Feng pounced from behind, arms snaking around her waist, greedy palms claiming those proud, full breasts he'd been obsessing over all day.
"Mm—"
Her legs turned to water; she sagged back against him. That perfect, plush ass pressed right against Little Lin Feng, who was already straining like he wanted to punch through fabric.
Lin Feng's fingers found her sash, tugging impatiently.
Yun pressed his hand still. "Wait… I do want a man… but not like this. You only want my body, don't you?"
He froze, frustrated but curious. "…And?"
She turned in his arms, moonlight painting silver across her face. "If I give you everything tonight, will you even remember my name tomorrow?"
Lin Feng opened his mouth—then closed it. Damn, she's good.
"I'll remember," he promised hoarsely.
"Then you'll remember without taking everything." She rose on tiptoe and brushed a feather-light kiss across his lips—barely more than a tease. "You can taste… but you can't feast. Not yet."
Lin Feng nearly howled. Blue-balled in broad daylight and now again at midnight? Cruel woman!
But the unhealthy beast inside him wasn't surrendering that easily.
"Fine," he growled, sliding one hand down the curve of her spine, the other cupping her jaw. "Then I'll just collect interest."
What followed was a very thorough, very frustrated exploration—lips on throat, teeth grazing collarbones, palms mapping every inch he was allowed to touch. Yun's breathing turned to soft, helpless whimpers; her fingers dug into his shoulders hard enough to leave crescents.
When his hand slipped dangerously low again, she caught his wrist, trembling. "Enough… any more and I won't be able to stop myself."
"I stopped being able to stop the second I walked in," he rasped, eyes glowing like a wolf's.
"Too bad." She nipped his lower lip punishingly. "You'll live."
"…When?" he demanded, voice cracking with desperation.
"Come see me often. Be good. Then maybe I'll let you have everything." She smoothed an errant strand of hair from his forehead, suddenly gentle.
Lin Feng slumped. "In a couple days I might be shipped off to War Tiger Academy."
"Didn't His Majesty grant you free passage in the palace? What are you afraid of?" She smiled against his neck.
He groaned theatrically. "You're pure evil. I'm going back to suffer."
Yun laughed softly. "Go find your little maid and solve it yourself."
"She's still a kid—don't talk nonsense."
"Oh? So the big bad wolf is suddenly a gentleman?" she teased.
Lin Feng straightened proudly. "I swear on my ancestors—I'm still Grade-A virgin."
Yun's eyes widened, then curved with wicked delight. "Because your maid is too young? She's a stunning beauty in the making. I don't believe you've never touched her."
She reached up to fix his collar, fingers lingering. "Don't tempt me too hard, little wolf. I might really gobble you up one day."
Lin Feng caught her hand, kissed the inside of her wrist with deliberate slowness.
"Remember you said that. The day you decide to gobble—I won't run."
Then, before his whole body screaming in