Prince Bei Jing of the Red Chamber, starting from saving Qin Keqing

As Feng Jie's carriage disappeared outside the vermilion gates of the Prince's Mansion, Shui Rong's tense nerves suddenly relaxed, but the suppressed desire in his heart spread like wildfire, making his limbs and bones feel hot.

He practically strode across the covered corridor and rushed straight into his bedroom, slamming the door shut with a dull thud.

My gaze fell upon the enormous white jade bathtub in the hall. The water inside was crystal clear, and wisps of cold air rose up, enveloping the candlelight in the hall and making the surrounding air feel cooler.

As Shui Rong gazed at the icy aura, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily. He had just shivered from the chill of the ice water, but that chill was fleeting, only making the burning fire within him feel even more intense.

The sensations he had felt in the carriage, the touch of Wang Xifeng's jade-like hand, and her voluptuous figure, especially the full, high curves of her breasts, whose breathtaking rise and fall could be seen even through her embroidered silk dress, were now swirling in his mind, stirring his heart and soul.

He disregarded everything else, raised his hand to untie the jade belt at his waist, and his outer robe slid off, revealing the moon-white inner garment.

With deft fingertips, the last layer of restraint was removed, revealing a body that could be described as perfect.

With broad shoulders and a narrow waist, the spine has a smooth and clean line, and the muscles in the shoulders and neck are firm but not knotted, exuding a sense of restrained strength.

Down his back, there were clearly defined eight-pack abs, with lines as distinct as if carved by a knife and axe, which outlined a highly taut arc as he bent over slightly.

The V-line on his waist was neatly taut, extending to his well-proportioned long legs. Every inch of his skin exuded the handsome and vigorous spirit of a young prince. It was clearly the physique he had honed through years of martial arts training, yet due to his pampered lifestyle, it also revealed a touch of jade-like refinement.

The chill of the icy water hit him in the face. He took a deep breath and stepped into the bathtub.

As his jade-like body was immersed in the icy water, the biting chill seeped into his pores, causing his back to tense slightly.

He raised his hand and scooped up a handful of ice water, letting it slide down his neck. The water droplets rolled over the hollow of his collarbone, swept across the smooth lines of his chest, and finally fell into the pool, creating fine ripples.

The icy water was meant to extinguish the burning desire that had ignited in the carriage, but the coldness that touched my fingertips only made those beautiful memories even clearer.

"Oh……"

Shui Rong gave a low, self-deprecating laugh, her Adam's apple bobbing. She buried her face in the ice water for a moment, and when she lifted it up, water droplets dripping from her hair slid down her jawline, wetting the skin on her chest.

He gazed at his handsome yet somewhat melancholic reflection in the water, and thought to himself:

To actually harbor such filthy thoughts—could it be that he has truly acquired Cao Mengde's predilections? Is he only interested in other men's wives? This kind of feeling is truly unpleasant.

He was not born clean or abstinent; it was just that the Prince of Beijing's mansion held a prestigious position and was under the emperor's watchful eye. His Majesty was already wary of the princes of the imperial clan, and if he were to take more wives and indulge in pleasure, it would inevitably give others cause for gossip and arouse suspicion.

Countless eyes are fixed on his position as the Prince of Bei Jing; the slightest misstep could lead to utter ruin.

If it weren't for the need to maintain this precarious balance and cultivate an image of being respectful, self-disciplined, and averse to women, this dignified prince, barely of age, would already be surrounded by beautiful wives and concubines, enjoying the bliss of family life. Why would he need to endure this ordeal with ice water?

Upon hearing the phrase "just reached adulthood," Shui Rong couldn't help but chuckle again.

In ancient times, age was really not a reliable indicator. Reaching adulthood meant one was considered an adult. However, by calculation, he was only in his early twenties now, which would have made him an ignorant youth in his previous life.

But people in this world are already surprisingly mature—like Qin Keqing, such a beautiful and talented woman, who is only eighteen or nineteen years old at the time, the age when flowers are in full bloom.

The image of Qin Keqing suddenly appeared in my mind, her plump figure was just right, especially her full breasts that made my heart flutter. If I could caress and ravage them at will, how wonderful it would be.

Once the thought arose, it spread like wildfire, and the desire that had just been suppressed by the ice water flared up again, burning his ears.

The chill of the water gradually seeped into his limbs, and Shui Rong felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier. In his mind, the face of Wang Xifeng, the plumpness of Qin Keqing, and the phantom of the Fairy Disenchantment intertwined and entangled, and he sank into a dream world in the ice basin.

In a daze, he seemed to be standing on a misty cloud, surrounded by clouds and mist, with a fragrant breeze and the faint sound of silk and bamboo instruments.

Before long, the clouds and mist gradually dissipated, revealing a magnificent palace in front of them. The plaque above it bore the four characters "Taixu Huanjing" (meaning "Illusory Realm of the Great Void"), written with ethereal strokes, as if by a celestial being.

As a time traveler, he naturally knew about the celestial palace deep within the Red Chamber, and he was even more aware that the woman slowly approaching before him was the Fairy Disenchantment, who was in charge of the romantic affairs and worldly debts of the mortal world.

Amidst the wisps of clouds, the fairy moved gracefully, her white silk dress trailing on the ground, the delicate lotus patterns on it flowing with her steps like swirling clouds.

Her figure was most striking; her waist was slender as a willow branch, barely large enough to be grasped, yet it accentuated her full and voluptuous breasts. The white gauze, as thin as a cicada's wing, outlined her graceful curves breathtakingly, trembling slightly as she moved, making one's eyes water.

"Prince Bei Jing, Shui Rong, is still bound by worldly ties and desires. This invitation to you is solely to enlighten your foolishness."

The Fairy of Illusion parted her lips slightly, her voice as melodious as a nightingale's song. With light steps, she approached, and the fragrance of orchids and musk emanating from her became even more refreshing. Shui Rong felt his heart sway and forgot to speak.

The fairy led him into the hall, where he saw a plaque with the words "Department of Ill-fated Women" hanging on the wall, and scrolls lined the cabinet, but not a single word could be deciphered.

The fairy sighed softly: "All men and women in this world are obsessed with love. Even though the prince is bound to his family and country, he cannot escape the entanglements of the mortal world."

Having said that, he raised his hand and waved it lightly. A stage rose in the hall, and the sound of string and wind instruments filled the air. A group of fairies danced gracefully, singing a new tune from *Dream of the Red Chamber*, the lyrics of which were:

"Love in the heavens and seas, a body shrouded in illusion; where love meets, lust is inevitable. Though it is said that all the unworthy are born of glory, the true source of trouble lies in Ning."

The singing was melodious, yet every word was like a needle, piercing Shui Rong's heart.

Just as I was about to ask more questions, Fairy Jinghuan approached me, her sleeves fluttering lightly, carrying a refreshing coolness.

Her figure became increasingly graceful. When she raised her hand, her fair wrist was like snow and her fingertips like jade. Her soft contours were faintly visible in the light and shadow, possessing both the youthful innocence and the voluptuous charm of a mature woman. Seeing this, Shui Rong's heart fluttered, and the desire within her surged again, even more intensely than when she was in the ice water.

"Your Highness, this is merely a fantasy, a 'lustful' illusion."

The fairy's lips parted slightly, her breath as sweet as orchids, "All worldly desires are illusions; if one does not see through them, they will ultimately become shackles."

Before she finished speaking, her figure suddenly floated away again, transforming into the appearance of Wang Xifeng, her jade hand gently raised as if to touch his cheek.

In an instant, she transformed into Qin Keqing, her eyes filled with affection, her figure graceful and alluring, her ample bosom faintly visible, prompting Shui Rong to reach out and grab her, only to find nothing.

Illusions shift and change, desires surge like a tide.

Shui Rong felt unbearably hot all over, the chill of the ice water had long since dissipated, and all he could see before him were the graceful figures of the fairy and the two women. Their soft curves, lustrous skin, and melodious warbling voices wove together a web of love, trapping him firmly.

He wanted to break free, but he was also drawn into it. He felt an indescribable heat rushing from his dantian to the top of his head, his muscles tensed, and his breathing became increasingly heavy.

The Fairy Disenchantment's figure flickered in and out of the clouds, her voice tinged with melancholy: "Foolish child, you could never see through it all..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shui Rong felt a sudden surge of heat erupt within him, which he could no longer suppress.

Shui Rong suddenly opened his eyes, still lying in the white jade bathtub. The water droplets splashed up by the ice water slid down his well-defined abdominal muscles, and the bathwater spread out with a faint turbidity, silently proclaiming that his previous descent into depravity was not an illusion.

He was panting heavily, raising his hand to wipe his lips, where the faint fragrance of orchids and musk and the crispness of the rain still lingered. Gazing at the misty vapor before him, a faint sense of satisfaction flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by the composure befitting the Prince of Bei Jing, suppressing all the tenderness in that illusion deep within his heart.