A few days into his service at the Fragrant Courtyard of the New Moon, Mama Zhao, her expression more severe than usual, announced that Concubine Hua wished to meet the new eunuch. A knot of anticipation tightened in Lin Feng's gut. This was his first up-close encounter with imperial flesh, and his system was likely to have a field day.
He was led to Concubine Hua's private receiving hall, a room draped in luxurious silks that whispered secrets with every breeze. The air was heavy with the intoxicating aroma of rare incense, mingling with a sweeter, more intimate fragrance that hinted at the woman who resided within. Seated languidly on a low divan piled with plush cushions, Concubine Hua awaited him.
Lin Feng's breath hitched. This wasn't just beauty; this was a deliberate, breathtaking display of sensual power. Concubine Hua's skin seemed to glow with a pearlescent sheen, contrasting starkly with the raven cascade of her hair that tumbled over her bare shoulders, stopping just short of the swell of her generous breasts. Her eyes, dark and heavily lidded, held a sultry invitation, a silent promise of untold pleasures. She wore a gown of the sheerest lavender silk, the fabric clinging to her curves like a lover's caress, revealing the delicate outline of her nipples and the tantalizing shadow between her thighs as she shifted. One slender leg was drawn up beneath her, the silken fabric pooling around her calf, while the other foot, adorned with a delicate gold anklet, rested on a cushion. Her lips, full and painted a vibrant crimson, curved into a slow, knowing smile as she regarded him.
As Lin Feng knelt respectfully, trying not to let his gaze linger too long on the enticing view before him, the familiar system window materialized:
[Scanning Subject: Hua Rou (Emperor's New Concubine, Age 20)]
[Bio Snippet Unlocked: Newly favored by the Emperor for her unparalleled beauty and captivating allure. Secretly feels like a prized possession, longing for genuine passion and connection beyond the Emperor's fleeting attention.]
[Potential Interaction Opportunities:]
(Offer a respectful and formal greeting): +3 Favorability
(Subtly compliment her exquisite beauty): +8 Favorability
(Express admiration for the sensuous ambiance of her receiving hall): +10 Favorability
(Remain silent and await her commands.): 0 Favorability
Concubine Hua's gaze, languid and assessing, drifted over Lin Feng's form. "So, you are the new eunuch Elder Qin has sent to my humble courtyard?" Her voice was a silken murmur, laced with a hint of boredom and an undercurrent of something more… perhaps a spark of curiosity.
"Yes, esteemed Concubine Hua," Lin Feng replied, keeping his head bowed low but his senses keenly aware of every subtle movement she made. He chose the third option in his mind: (Express admiration for the sensuous ambiance of her receiving hall). "The very air in your presence, esteemed Concubine, speaks of exquisite taste. The silks, the perfumes… it is truly a haven of beauty."
[Chosen Interaction: Express admiration for the sensuous ambiance of her receiving hall]
[Hua Rou - Favorability: +10]
[Current Favorability: 10]
A slow smile spread across Concubine Hua's lips, her eyes narrowing slightly as if intrigued by his words. "You have perceptive eyes for a eunuch," she purred, her gaze lingering on him a moment longer before drifting back to the intricate embroidery on her sleeve. "Life in these gilded cages can be… stifling. One must create their own little pockets of pleasure, wouldn't you agree?" A hint of melancholy, quickly followed by a flash of defiance, flickered in her dark eyes.
As Concubine Hua spoke, that familiar warmth bloomed within Lin Feng, more intense this time. It resonated deeper, a subtle hum against his skin, almost like a faint vibration. The system window was updated with a more prominent notification:
[Nascent Energy Resonance Detected: Concubine Hua's aura of potent feminine energy has significantly stimulated your latent cultivation.]
Lin Feng's blood quickened. "Feminine energy"? Was that palace code for… something else? Regardless, the system was reacting more strongly to this woman. He had a feeling his proximity to Concubine Hua wasn't just about dusting furniture and fetching tea. This was the first real taste of the power he could potentially gain, and the alluring woman before him was the source. This assignment, he realized, was going to be far more interesting – and a whole lot more tempting – than he could have ever imagined
Lin Feng's mind raced. "Feminine energy"… In the cultivation novels he used to devour, this was often described as a potent source of power, something that could be drawn upon to enhance one's own abilities. Could his system be operating on similar principles? The notification about "latent cultivation" suggested he already possessed some innate ability, just waiting to be awakened or amplified. And Concubine Hua, with her undeniable allure, was apparently the key.
As he contemplated this, the system window shimmered again, the text within the "Nascent Energy Resonance Detected" notification subtly changing:
[Proximity to Subject: Hua Rou is stimulating your latent cultivation. Prolonged exposure and focused interaction may allow for the absorption of her potent feminine energy, leading to increased physical strength and other benefits.]
Lin Feng didn't need to be told twice. Physical strength was paramount to his survival in this treacherous environment. Being a seemingly weak eunuch would make him an easy target. If he could subtly tap into this "feminine energy" and become stronger, it would drastically improve his chances.
He kept his head bowed, focusing his attention on the gentle rhythm of Concubine Hua's breathing, the subtle rise and fall of her chest beneath the sheer silk. He tried to consciously reach out with his senses, imagining drawing in the warmth he had felt earlier. It was a clumsy attempt, guided more by instinct than any actual knowledge, but a faint tingling sensation spread through his limbs, a subtle awakening within his very core.
Concubine Hua, who had been observing him with a curious gaze, suddenly shifted slightly on her divan, a delicate shiver tracing its way down her spine. Her eyes flickered to Lin Feng, a hint of something unreadable – surprise? Intrigue? – in their depths. She quickly veiled her expression, her lips curving into that same knowing smile. "You seem… unusually attentive, little eunuch. I trust you are finding your duties to your liking?" There was a playful lilt to her voice
[Potential Interaction Opportunities:]
(Reply with a self-deprecating remark about a eunuch's simple pleasures): +4 Favorability
(Acknowledge her beauty with a respectful but admiring tone): +8 Favorability
(Maintain a strictly formal demeanor and focus on his duties): +1 Favorability
(Offer a playful, slightly suggestive remark that hints at understanding her meaning): +10 Favorability
Lin Feng kept his head respectfully lowered but allowed a subtle, knowing smile to play on his lips. "Esteemed Concubine," he replied, his voice soft and carefully neutral, "even a humble servant can sometimes perceive that the most beautiful cages are still, indeed, cages. And that perhaps… the most exquisite flowers sometimes yearn for a different kind of watering." He kept his gaze fixed on the polished floor, letting his words hang in the air, a veiled acknowledgment of her beauty and her yearning for something more.
The system window shimmered:
[Chosen Interaction: Offer a playful, slightly suggestive remark that hints at understanding her meaning]
[Hua Rou - Favorability: +10]
[Current Favorability: 20]
A low chuckle, like the soft rustling of silk, escaped Concubine Hua's lips. She leaned forward slightly, her dark eyes now narrowed, assessing Lin Feng with a newfound intensity. The playful smile that had touched her lips widened into something more intrigued, a hint of genuine amusement sparkling in their depths. "You are perceptive, little eunuch," she purred, her gaze lingering on him for a moment longer, as if seeing him in a new light. "Perhaps you are more than just a pair of hands to fetch tea."