Chapter 4
After that, I came to Lu Hemian’s residence through the secret passage every day.
He was an excellent teacher.
He taught me to hold a bow, wield a sword, use concealed weapons, and circulate my inner energy.
He also taught me troop deployments, battle formations, and the esoteric arts of Qimen Dunjia.
Though our bodies sometimes touched, he never overstepped.
His residence was spacious, its pavilions and galleries arranged with care. It had everything: a library, a music room, a training ground. Skilled cooks prepared every meal.
Within a month, color had returned to my cheeks. I felt full of energy, moved more lightly, and my Fortune had stopped falling.
That day, Lu Hemian was teaching me archery.
Snow drifted onto the glazed tiles of the heated pavilion.
He guided my hand to the bowstring, his warm breath turning white in the cold.
“Keep your shoulder down and your hand steady as you draw. Like this…”
His palm covered the back of my hand. We bent the bow into a full moon.
His voice stopped abruptly.
The next instant, he shoved me away.
His throat worked rapidly. Fine beads of sweat had appeared at his temples.
“What have you brought with you?”
I stared at him.
“Are you all right?”
“I’ve just come from a flower-viewing party with the other ladies. I didn’t have time to change, so I came straight here.”
He drew a deep breath. A vein throbbed at his temple.
“Was there ylang-ylang at the party?”
“Ylang-ylang… yes. The chief minister’s second daughter had just acquired a pot of rare flowers. We spent a long time admiring them.”
The comments erupted.
[Oh no! Ylang-ylang pollen triggers the second male lead’s s*x addiction! The pollen on her clothes has set him off!!]
[He has a major attack every three to five months. Before, when she wasn’t around, he could deal with it himself. Now his pretty girl is right there. How’s he supposed to hold back?]
[There’s a heavenly-silkworm silk ribbon on the display shelf. Tie him up, quick, or you really won’t be able to escape!]
I lunged toward the shelf, but I was no match for Lu Hemian’s speed.
I never even saw how he moved. Everything blurred.
His arm clamped around my waist like an iron band, and he pressed me onto the daybed.
“Ah!”
The light scent of sandalwood engulfed me.
Lu Hemian pinned me beneath him, holding my wrists above my head so that I couldn’t so much as struggle.
His burning lips brushed my earlobe. His voice was frighteningly hoarse.
“Jiang Zhiqing, you haven’t learned how to bind a man yet.”
“Take this.”
He pushed a dagger into my hand.
Hot breath swept over my ear, his voice low and rough.
“Do you remember what I just taught you?”
“A steady hand. Firm pressure.”
“You have the dagger. If you don’t want this, drive it into my chest.”
“Otherwise…”
He watched me with bloodshot eyes, desire surging in them, his reason teetering at the edge.
What remained was instinct, pure and animal.
“However much you beg, I won’t let you go.”