Marquis Lanling

Qi Bei sat cross-legged on the large bed, bare-chested, both palms pressed against Phantom's pink back. She wore only a close-fitting undergarment.

Wisps of white smoke drifted from the Baihui acupoint atop Qi Bei's head. His surging inner power circulated continuously through his body, flowing through his palms into Phantom's body and striking her blocked meridians like a drill.

Whenever her meridians opened even slightly, Qi Bei could sense a faint, mysterious force awakening within her.

After a long while, Qi Bei's inner power ran out. He began to withdraw his energy, slowly exhaling a mouthful of turbid air.

The moment he opened his eyes, the slight fatigue in Qi Bei's gaze was replaced by a gleam.

Phantom's close-fitting undergarment was completely soaked with sweat, clinging tightly to her shapely body and becoming almost entirely transparent.

From Qi Bei's angle, he could see most of the proud, rounded swell beneath Phantom's armpit.

She really has some impressive assets. Qi Bei secretly swallowed, his gaze sliding down from her pink back. Below her straight spine were two full, pert buttocks. Though she was sitting, the soaked panties clearly revealed a mysterious cleft, leaving boundless room for imagination.

I can't think about this anymore...

Qi Bei shamelessly became aroused. Faced with such a naked, wet temptation, any man would have to be hard.

Just then, Phantom let out a long breath and regained consciousness. She was somewhat excited, feeling light and wonderfully comfortable all over. In all the years she had lived, she had never felt so relaxed.

Phantom turned around and opened her mouth to speak, only to discover that Qi Bei's eyes were fixed straight on her chest.

Phantom lowered her head and let out a soft cry. Her pair of large, white breasts seemed to be completely exposed before Qi Bei, with her pink nipples thrusting out prominently.

Qi Bei's breathing immediately grew ragged. He pulled Phantom into his arms in one motion, his large hand directly gripping one of her breasts.

"Next time, don't wear clothes this transparent. If you tempt me again, I'll eat you." Feeling Phantom's delicate body stiffen and seeing the panic in her expression, Qi Bei squeezed hard. Then he gnashed his teeth, jumped up, and rushed out to take a cold shower.

Phantom watched Qi Bei's retreating back and gave a shy smile. The fear she had felt moments ago had turned entirely into delight.

Qi Bei strolled leisurely along Golden Leaf's Fifth Avenue with Vajra.

Fifth Avenue was the most prosperous street in the Imperial Capital, and most of the world-famous trading houses were gathered there.

"Vajra, what do you think you're alive for?" Qi Bei suddenly asked out of nowhere.

Vajra's fists clenched with a "crack," then loosened again.

"Hmm, I think you've already answered me. Your affairs are my affairs, Qi Bei's affairs. That's my promise." Qi Bei stopped.

Vajra's iron-tower-like body trembled. In a deep voice, he said, "Fifth Young Master, you don't understand..."

"I understand. Whatever you're facing, count me in." Qi Bei waved his hand, cutting Vajra off.

Vajra stared at Qi Bei, while Qi Bei looked back at him openly.

Suddenly, Vajra crossed his two thick arms over his chest and dropped to one knee before Qi Bei.

Qi Bei had never seen this ritual before, but he understood that it was Vajra's promise to him.

At that moment, across the street, by the window on the third floor of a restaurant, a young girl was watching this scene with cool, beautiful eyes.

"Mingyue, it seems your future husband has gained a true follower." The girl opposite her followed her gaze and smiled faintly.

"Eh? It's him! So he's Qi Bei of the Nord Family. He was so arrogant at Drunken Moon Garden." A little girl of twelve or thirteen beside them curiously poked her head out for a look and exclaimed loudly.

"Ruoyu, could you lower your voice?" Feng Ruoyun rapped her sister on the head.

"Oh, Elder Sister, you haven't even married into the Nord Family yet, and you're already protecting your little brother-in-law." Feng Ruoyu made a face and teased her playfully.

A faint blush spread across Feng Ruoyun's pretty face. Thinking of the young man with the tiger tattooed across his chest—her future husband—she suddenly felt a little desolate.

Princess Mingyue looked at Feng Ruoyun, her closest friend since childhood. She could tell that Feng Ruoyun was not without feelings for Huai'an Nord; it was simply that something seemed to be troubling her.

"Ruoyun, given our positions, there are some things we simply cannot decide for ourselves. You're fortunate enough to have found a man you like to take as your husband, so why torment yourself over anything else?" Princess Mingyue spoke up. She did not know why she was trying to persuade her. Originally, Father Emperor had wanted her to do everything possible to separate the pair.

"Is it really so difficult to find someone who loves only one person?" Feng Ruoyun sighed softly.

The character "忠" meant wholehearted devotion. To love only one person for an entire lifetime was true devotion.

"Ruoyun, you understand it in your heart. Why make things difficult for yourself?" Princess Mingyue patted Feng Ruoyun's small hand. In this world, women could enjoy many rights, and some countries were even ruled by queens. But the right to be promiscuous belonged only to men. Men could be unfaithful and possess many women, while once a woman was engaged, she might sneak around, but she absolutely could not openly associate with other men.

Even a prince consort who married a princess was forbidden from taking another wife, but that did not mean he would not have affairs with other women outside.

"I've decided. If I can't find a man in this lifetime who will devote himself to me, I'll grow old alone." Just then, the childish Feng Ruoyu beside them waved her fist and declared this seriously.

Princess Mingyue and Feng Ruoyun could not help laughing. Neither of them took her seriously. That was simply how the world was. Perhaps a man would devote himself to one woman, yet the woman would not like him, while the man she did like would happen to chase every flower and leave affection everywhere.

Besides, the marriages of sons and daughters from prestigious families were not theirs to decide.

Just then, a thunderclap of furious shouting suddenly rang out from the street below. The three girls instinctively leaned out to look.

They saw the giant beside Qi Bei glaring furiously, his two massive arms lifting two guards into the air as easily as chicks before he flung them away viciously.

"Oh, my darling, you're truly strong as an ox. This marquis likes you." Not far away, a coquettish man covered in makeup and dressed in a pink robe raised a delicate orchid finger and spoke in a cloying voice that made gooseflesh rise.

"It's Marquis Lanling. Looks like he's taken a liking to that big fellow." The corners of Princess Mingyue's lips curved slightly. For some reason, seeing Qi Bei in trouble made her a little happy.

Marquis Lanling was a first-rank marquis who favored men. He was famous throughout the Golden Leaf Dynasty and an extremely troublesome character.

"I'm afraid it isn't that simple. Marquis Lanling is extremely close to Patriarch Fox. That fat pig from House of Fox was left in a miserable state by Qi Bei in Star City. Marquis Lanling has probably come specifically to cause trouble." Feng Ruoyun spoke calmly.

"Then Marquis Lanling is far too shameless." Feng Ruoyu wrinkled her little nose. When she saw Princess Mingyue and Feng Ruoyun looking over, she hurriedly added, "I'm not taking Qi Bei's side. It's just that Qi Bei is a junior. If he has the guts, he should go trouble Uncle Raymond instead."

"Ruoyu, when Marquis Lanling loses his temper, he bullies even three-year-old children. What's so strange about him bullying Qi Bei?" Princess Mingyue said, a trace of wariness flashing through her beautiful eyes.