Each caress of his tongue against her sensitive walls drew a whimpering cry from the girl beneath him, like a kitten in distress. These soft, pitiful sounds only intensified the cruel desire within him to utterly possess her, his lips and tongue working in concert until she was nearly senseless with pleasure.

"Master, no, ah...ah...too, too..." Yao Ji gasped, pinned to the table, struggling futilely against the overwhelming tide of sensation. Too what? She couldn't articulate it. Too intense? Too deep? It was a consuming, maddening pleasure that threatened to swallow her whole. She felt as though Pei Yan wasn't just tasting her, but devouring her, intent on consuming her entirely.

He had brought her to climax countless times already. Each time her breath hitched, teetering on the precipice of another peak, he would latch onto her sensitive bud, drawing a cry from her lips as he swallowed the sweet nectar that spilled for him.

This honeyed essence was like ambrosia to him. The man, who normally held himself with such aloof elegance, greedily drank the fluid flowing from her body, even licking the remnants from his lips before patting her bottom and demanding more.

"There's no more, Master..." Yao Ji whimpered, shaking her head. "I'm...I'm going to be drained dry..."

"Lying little thing," Pei Yan's low, amused voice drifted up from between her legs. His long, skillful fingers toyed with her swollen cl1t, coaxing another trickle of moisture from her. "You said you were drained dry, hmm? Then what's this flowing out of you?" With that, he nipped at her swollen folds. Though gentle, the bite sent a jolt of mingled pain and pleasure through her, causing another gush of arousal to spill onto the floor, leaving it glistening.

Yao Ji's vision swam. As she felt his hardness press against her entrance, her legs trembled, and she was left without even the strength to cry out. He held her br3asts from behind, kneading them as he thrust into her, her belly swelling with each stroke until it was finally filled with his hot, thick seed. She felt like a woman heavy with child, the gentle sloshing of his essence within her a constant reminder of his possession.

"Master..." she murmured, drifting in and out of consciousness. Just before she succumbed completely, she heard his whispered words against her ear.

"I'm sorry, Yao Yao."

You don't need to apologize, she thought, reaching out to grasp his hand. I know you're just a little afraid, and it's alright... As long as I'm with you.

It took Yao Ji several days to recover from their passionate encounter. During her convalescence, she learned that Ye Chonglou had abruptly departed the Pei residence that very day. Confusion gnawed at her. Ye Chonglou had come with a purpose, and clearly, that purpose had gone unfulfilled. Why would he leave?

And then there was Pei Yan. Yao Ji knew he felt remorseful after regaining his senses, but if it was shame that kept him away, it was strange that he hadn't visited her once during her recovery. It was so unlike him. Several times, she inquired about his activities, but the servants' responses were always vague and evasive.

Finally able to leave her bed, Yao Ji immediately sought out Pei Yan, only to be told he was ill. Not only that, but several maidservants barred her from seeing him, claiming he needed absolute rest and couldn't risk spreading his illness.

Anxiety and suspicion warred within Yao Ji. She worried about the severity of his illness, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something else was afoot. With no other recourse, she decided to seek out Pei An, the estate manager.

Pei An wasn't easily accessible, but Yao Ji was a favored concubine, and her request to see him was quickly relayed. The message came back that Pei An couldn't come, and that's when the alarm bells truly rang. Even she could see that Pei Yan's "illness" was a fabrication.

Impatient and driven by worry, she disregarded all decorum and rushed to the outer courtyard, intercepting Pei An on the path. He frowned at the sight of her, clearly wanting to speak but holding back.

"Steward Pei," Yao Ji said, her voice quiet but firm, "please tell me the truth."

Her voice, though soft, held the same unwavering resolve as her dark eyes.

Pei An sighed. "The Master forbade me from telling you, but I can't stand by and watch," he said, his eyes flashing with suppressed anger. "You want the truth? I'll tell you the truth. The Master isn't ill. He's been poisoned. And the reason he was poisoned," Pei An paused, his gaze fixed on Yao Ji with disgust, "is you."