They moved to the dining hall, where servants had already laid out a table laden with delicacies. Pei Yan guided Ye Chonglou to the guest seat, a servant girl positioned behind him to attend to his needs. Yao Ji quickly took her place behind Pei Yan.

"You may sit," Pei Yan said suddenly.

Yao Ji froze. Nominally a servant in the Pei household, she was hardly entitled to dine with a guest. But Pei Yan, his grip firm on her arm, guided her to the seat beside him. "I care for her," he explained to Ye Chonglou with a smile. "Please forgive my indulgence."

Ye Chonglou merely glanced at them indifferently. "I am, of course, at my host's discretion."

The gesture was undeniably unconventional, a surprising breach of etiquette for the usually impeccable Pei Yan. Not only Yao Ji, but the other servants in the room, were visibly startled, quickly masking their surprise. Yao Ji felt acutely uncomfortable. What was the Master's intention?

Was he attempting to distance himself from Ye Chonglou, using her as a means to convey his disinterest? Or… had he discovered something amiss? The thought that her true identity might be exposed sent a wave of panic through her. Years of training alone prevented the jade chopsticks in her hand from trembling.

She forced herself to appear calm, reaching for the bamboo shoots on the silver platter before her. Suddenly, a soft gasp escaped her lips as her hand trembled, dropping the bamboo shoots onto the table.

"What is it?" Pei Yan asked with concern.

"Nothing," Yao Ji murmured, her gaze lowered. "I simply lost my grip."

"Very well," Pei Yan said gently. "Just sit comfortably. Tell me what you would like, and I will serve you." He picked up a portion of bamboo shoots and placed them on her plate. Though she knew he couldn't see, Yao Ji felt his dark eyes upon her, filled with gentle warmth. Her right hand trembled almost imperceptibly as she lifted the bamboo shoots to her mouth.

Pei Yan then turned his attention back to Ye Chonglou, engaging him in conversation.

Beneath the table, unseen by anyone, his other hand lifted the hem of Yao Ji's skirt. His fingers traced the smooth lines of her legs, moving upwards to rest against her thigh.

It was this touch that had caused her earlier gasp. She hadn't expected such a bold gesture in the presence of others. A blush crept up her cheeks as she lowered her head in embarrassment. But Pei Yan didn't relent. His hand, beneath the fabric of her undergarments, explored the delicate skin between her thighs. 

His fingertips traced the outline of her folds, and sensing the dampness seeping through the cloth, his touch grew bolder. He pressed his fingers deeper, teasing the sensitive flesh until it yielded slightly, as if testing the possibility of further intrusion.

Yao Ji quickly pressed her thighs together, her body trembling. Her breath grew increasingly rapid and shallow. Clutching the jade chopsticks tightly, she bit her lip, determined to stifle any sound.

Despite her efforts, Ye Chonglou couldn't help but notice her distress. Martial artists possessed heightened senses. While the other servants remained oblivious, Ye Chonglou, with his profound inner strength, perceived the subtle shift in the atmosphere.

His cold gaze lingered on Yao Ji for a moment before shifting away.