Chapter 49: Hum~ Be gentle 

The warm pavilion was elegantly adorned, with carved beams and painted rafters. A gilded bronze incense burner, shaped with twin lions and an embroidered ball, sat centrally, its misty fragrance wafting through the air.

The scent made Ji Yanqing’s face flush, laced with a peculiar drug.

‘Hmm… Bewitching Powder, same as the kind used at the Pleasure House.’

Ji Yanqing thought to himself. As a regular who could name every courtesan there, he was all too familiar with this odd aroma.

Since moving to Ye City years ago, Xie Lingwan spent New Year with Xiao Yao’s family. The Wei King’s consort doted on her, often cradling Ji Yanqing on her lap, chatting affectionately with her nephew.

Then the consort passed, the new emperor ascended, and a decree recalled Wei King Ji Yang to the capital as Minister of War.

With tensions rising on the western frontier, troops gathered in Luoyang, swords drawn.

In such a crisis, the Wei King prepared to lead another western campaign, with no chance of returning to Ye City.

Gradually, the mansion’s New Year feast was left to Xie Lingwan and Ji Yanqing alone. Still, Xie took it seriously, personally cooking two of his favorite dishes.

Shedding his heavy cloak, Ji Yanqing sat with Xie at a round table. In thin garments, her wasp waist and curved hips were on full display—a rare beauty.

With guest Ji Qingyan yet to arrive, they couldn’t start eating.

Pop, pop—

Fireworks lit the quiet night, reflecting on the window paper.

Xie, in a fitted crimson dress, fetched a black gilded robe from a cabinet, handing it to Ji Yanqing. “Year after year, safe and sound. Remember my teachings, be a dashing Heir, and avoid trouble.”

Ji Yanqing took the robe she’d sewn, pulling a lustrous jade from his sleeve for her. “Happy New Year, Auntie. May you grow ever prettier. This calming jade from the Bronze Sparrow Chamber soothes the mind and enhances beauty.”

“A widow’s beauty is useless… unlike those vixens flaunting their charms,” Xie said, though her lips curved upward.

Her fox-like eyes blinked, exuding mature allure as she teased, “You used to love sitting on my lap as a child.”

“Your legs are pale, slender, and lovely—I still adore them,” Ji Yanqing chuckled. Knowing her feelings, he dropped the filial act.

For fun’s sake, of course.

As a youth, he’d strolled by Xiaochun Lake and glimpsed Xie bathing, half-veiled in gauze, her graceful form bathed in moonlight—an enchanting scene.

Since then, he harbored improper thoughts, but now suspected she’d deliberately shown herself, knowing he frequented the lake.

“What are you saying? I’m your aunt!” Xie’s face flushed, chiding with a hint of resentment. She lifted her foot, clad in red-and-white embroidered shoes, revealing silk-clad ankles, flesh faintly visible.

“My feet are sore, Yanqing. Massage them,” she said.

“Is that proper?” he asked, feigning innocence.

“It’s just a nephew massaging his aunt’s feet—no crime. It’s filial. I’ll praise you to your father,” she said, placing her delicate foot in his lap, her voice sultry.

As the saying goes, “Never touch a man’s head or a woman’s feet.”

Such intimacy was far from typical aunt-nephew behavior.

“I promised Sister Xiao Yao to care for you, yet you’re so distant. Sigh, too many fragrant wildflowers out there, and you don’t know which to pick, or you wouldn’t be here…” Her jealous tone nearly made his teeth ache.

“You wrong me, Auntie. I love you most. Where in Ye City is there a woman prettier than you? Back then, Gusu Xie’s daughter played Phoenix Seeking Mate and charmed Jiangnan,” Ji Yanqing said softly, his brows sharp, his face refined.

“That was ages ago. I was twelve. Since moving here, I haven’t opened my azure phoenix jade flute’s case,” she said.

“When will you play for me, Auntie?” he asked innocently, holding her dainty foot.

Xie squinted her fox-like eyes, ready to scold as an elder, but his clear gaze held no mischief. Recalling their Buddhist hall antics, she muttered, “Lecher…”

Swallowing her loss, she said coyly, “Massage properly, and I’ll consider playing.”

Their mutual understanding of “playing the flute” was clear.

Ji Yanqing gently removed her shoe, revealing pale, tender feet in thin silk, toes curled nervously.

He held her soft heel, smooth as silk, and massaged gently, skillfully.

Don’t ask where he learned—call it natural talent.

Her orchid-like foot fragrance, floral and honeyed, was divine, stirring his heart.

Even a whiff could extend life.

“Mmm, gentler,” Xie moaned, her cheeks flushed, her dignity crumbling. Her fox-like eyes dazed, her arched foot like a crescent, toes like scattered pearls.

Ji Yanqing eased his touch, pressing acupoints like Gongsun, Yongquan, Taichong, and Zhiyin, his technique practiced—likely from massaging countless girls’ feet.

To improve circulation, he channeled spiritual energy through his fingertips into her acupoints, the warm flow stimulating her.

“Mmm, hng~” A tingling current coursed through her. Despite restraint, soft gasps escaped, seductive.

“How many girls’ feet have you toyed with?” Xie demanded, flustered, fixing her damp skirt and swatting his shoulder.

“None. You’re the first, Auntie,” he said earnestly.

The first today, at least.

“Smooth talker~” Xie peeled a plump grape, feeding it to him with pale fingers glistening with odd moisture.

‘Grape juice, probably’, he thought.

Just then, the pavilion door swung open. Ji Qingyan, meticulously dressed, stood dumbfounded, staring as Ji Yanqing held Xie’s finger in his mouth…