With exquisite touch, the girl’s soft moans drifted from her lips. Feet planted on the silk-covered couch, her back against the pillows, the pleasure building between her legs made her instinctively thrust her hips forward, as if offering herself to an unseen lover. Just as the instructor had taught her, the more her wetness flowed, the more the sweet scent permeated the air. It wasn’t just a hypothetical man who would be affected; even the instructor, despite witnessing this scene countless times, felt her mouth go dry.
Ye Chonglou’s face remained impassive. If not for his unwavering gaze fixed on Yao Ji, the instructor might have assumed he’d fallen asleep.
Yao Ji’s moans grew louder. The girls in the valley had been taught that some men preferred loud cries, while others favored soft whispers. One should never simply follow their own desires and moan unrestrainedly as pleasure intensified. So, she bit her lip, stifling her cries. Suddenly, Ye Chonglou spoke, “Louder.”
Yao Ji froze. Her body reacted faster than her mind, obeying his command with a high-pitched cry. Her broken whimpers resembled the song of an oriole, mingled with gasps and the slick sounds of her fingers working within her folds. The attention of all three in the room focused solely on Yao Ji. Even Ye Chonglou himself didn't notice his own breathing growing heavier, or the unexpected huskiness that crept into his normally icy voice.
Suddenly, he stiffened. While the instructor and Yao Ji remained oblivious, he subtly pressed his legs together beneath his robe, concealing the hardening bulge beneath. Fortunately, his robes were loose enough that no one would notice unless he moved.
“Enough,” Ye Chonglou said, a hint of impatience in his voice. “You may leave now. There’s no need to see the rest.”
The instructor felt a surge of hope. If he spoke like this, it meant he had chosen Yao Ji.
Yao Ji also understood that she had passed the test. The moment Ye Chonglou spoke, she stopped, though the lingering ache between her legs, the interrupted pleasure, left her restless. Without hesitation, she closed her legs, slid off the couch, and attempted a curtsy. Her legs nearly gave way, and she almost stumbled.
“Careful, child,” the instructor rushed to steady her. “We can’t have you damaging this delicate skin.”
Yao Ji murmured her thanks to the instructor. Still unclothed, she offered a respectful bow to Ye Chonglou.
He was about to leave, but paused, glancing at her with an almost imperceptible lift of his brow. He said nothing, then strode out.
“Alright, dress yourself,” the instructor said, patting Yao Ji’s arm. All her and the other women’s careful instruction had paid off. Yao Ji was well-behaved, intelligent, and her future was now certain. The instructor, who had always favored the girl, leaned closer. “You must have an idea by now. The Master is very pleased with you. Let me tell you, once you leave Green Valley, pleasant days await you.”
Yao Ji thanked the instructor profusely, quickly dressed, and then left the room.
Because of Ye Chonglou’s command, even though several girls hadn't yet been assessed, instructor Dong abruptly ended the session and led the remaining girls out of the Autumn Joy Pavilion.
The bustling pavilion quickly fell silent. Unseen in the empty main hall, Ye Chonglou returned. He went back to the room and picked up a small, fallen pear blossom near the couch, unnoticed earlier, that had slipped from Yao Ji’s sleeve.
He held the wilting flower in his palm, studying it intently. For how long, and with what thoughts, no one knew. Finally, he tucked the blossom into his sleeve and left.