Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Ningxiang Pavilion, nestled in a busy alley overlooking Gaoyang City, boasts vermilion-lacquered carved railings and low-hanging gauze curtains, the air perpetually filled with the elegant scent of incense and books. As a rare academy specifically for women in Gaoyang City, it attracts the daughters of the city's elite and ladies of scholarly families. Admission is itself a symbol of status.

Huangfu Ling sat by the window, overlooking the rippling Lotus Lake. The view was delightful, but it couldn't quell the rage within her. She had only been at Ningxiang Pavilion for a short time when the sign for "Girls' Arts Class" had already been blatantly displayed. Even more irritating was the discovery that the class's instructor was the mastermind behind Ningxiang Pavilion, the renowned courtesan known throughout Yunzhou and now even stirring up trouble in Gaoyang—Wei Jiajia (Ningxiang). A nameless fire of humiliation and provocation burned fiercely within her, threatening to burn through her normally reserved dignity.

Especially today, when Wei Jiajia, wearing a lavender brocade cloud-patterned skirt and with a graceful and elegant demeanor, walked into this classroom specially decorated for "boudoir arts" in an extremely elegant and secretive atmosphere, Huangfu Ling's beautiful eyes were like ice-hardened blades, fixed on her without blinking, so cold that they could almost freeze the air.

"Classmates, let's begin." Wei Jiajia's voice was clear and melodious, with a unique, soothing and captivating rhythm. She stood behind the podium, her gaze calmly sweeping across the room. As she glanced past Huangfu Ling, the corners of her lips curled up, barely perceptible.

There was an instant burst of suppressed whispers from the audience.

"Wow...Mr. Wei...so handsome!" A girl with two buns covering her mouth exclaimed, her eyes full of amazement.

"Shh! Keep your voice down! This is Ms. Ningxiang, the head of our Ningxiang Pavilion! My mother told me that she was the most beautiful courtesan in Yunzhou City back then!" A slightly older girl next to her whispered, her tone filled with complex curiosity and a hint of imperceptible yearning.

"The courtesan? She doesn't look very old. She seems... not much different from my sister?" Another voice joined in.

"Hmph! A prostitute-born girl is able to enter the house and teach us innocent girls some 'skills of the boudoir'. How disgraceful!" A girl in a goose yellow shirt and with an arrogant look on her face could not help but sneer in her voice, which was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the people around to hear.

"Oh, that's not right." Someone with a different opinion immediately retorted in a low voice, "I heard that although Mr. Ningxiang was once a courtesan, but... it seems that he only served one person and then redeemed himself and became a good woman." The person who spoke seemed to unintentionally drift in the direction of the window where the cold air was emanating.

"Ah? Only serving one person? Could it be... Zhang..." A straightforward girl almost blurted out the name, and was yanked hard by her sleeve by her companion next to her.

"Are you going to die? Huangfu is sitting right there! Have you forgotten the virtues you learned a few days ago, such as 'being cautious in words and deeds' and 'not discussing right and wrong'?" His companion was so anxious that his face turned pale.

"Alas... Sister Huangfu is so pitiful, meeting such an opponent..." In the corner, someone let out a sympathetic, barely audible sigh.

These comments, like fine needles, pierced Huangfu Ling's eardrums. She clenched her hands in her lap, nails digging deep into her palms. Her teeth clenched, a subtle yet distinct clacking sound. Her jawline tensed, a mingled fire of humiliation and anger burning in her chest. She felt everyone's gazes flickering towards her, sometimes with a hint of inquiry, sometimes sympathy, sometimes a sense of anticipation.

Wei Jiajia seemed completely oblivious to the discussion, or perhaps this was exactly the effect she wanted. With a triumphant air, she once again gave Huangfu Ling a clear, provocative look before clearing her throat and raising her voice with unquestionable authority:

"Students, silence!"

The classroom became quiet in an instant.

"Today's 'Girl Arts Class' is a little special." Wei Jiajia's voice held a strange allure. "It's not about needlework or embroidery, or poetry or song. It's about the fundamental etiquette and laws that distinguish between men and women, and the natural harmony of yin and yang. It's also about teaching you how to truly understand yourself in the years ahead, how to be a woman—a woman who controls her own destiny and knows how to enjoy the gifts of life."

The content of the following course was undoubtedly earth-shattering for these young women, who had mostly been raised in seclusion and naive to the world. Wei Jiajia drew on classics, yet presented them in a simple and accessible way, unraveling the often-hated "sexual matters" with subtle, graceful, yet strikingly direct language. She discussed the mysteries of the body, the stirrings of emotion, and the delicate balance of marital coexistence.

The female students in the audience blushed, their hearts pounding, yet they couldn't help but prick up their ears, afraid to miss a single word. Some lowered their heads shyly, some stared with curiosity, and some seemed lost in thought.

Halfway through the course, Wei Jiajia changed the subject and started the interactive session.

"We women are born to face these things. It's a gift, but also a responsibility." Her gaze wandered around the audience. "I hear several of you are already married. Why don't you please stand up and share your experiences with these young women? It will help them feel less ignorant and fearful about the future."

The young women who were called out instantly flushed with shame, their heads drooping almost to their chests. They faltered, stammered, and couldn't utter a single word. Only Huangfu Ling remained in that position—arms folded across her chest, leaning slightly back against the chair, chin slightly raised. Her beautiful eyes burned with undisguised fury as she stared intently at Wei Jiajia, as if ready to pounce and tear her apart. The low pressure surrounding her caused the other girls nearby to subconsciously move a little further away.

Wei Jiajia's gaze finally landed steadily on Huangfu Ling, with a deliberate gesture of "asking for advice":

"Huangfu," her voice was soft, but it carried clearly throughout the classroom, "Would you be willing to... share something with your classmates?"

Huangfu Ling sneered, her voice like broken ice: "Hmph! My experience? Very shallow! How can it compare to you, the courtesan Ningxiang... You have seen countless people and are very experienced!" She bit the words "seen countless people" very hard, with a strong sense of sarcasm.

The smile on Wei Jiajia's face did not change at all, but instead looked more gentle and decent: "I'm ashamed to say that although Ningxiang has been in the world of romance, she is not married yet. The harmony of marriage, the fun of the boudoir, and some more valuable experiences naturally require someone like Madam Huangfu who has been married in a formal way and has a loving couple, so that you sisters can give more sincere advice." She also emphasized the words "precious" and "sincere".

Huangfu Ling's cheeks flushed with anger, and she suppressed her anger: "Matters between men and women in the boudoir are private matters between husband and wife! How can...how can you say it in public! It's simply...shameless!" Her voice trembled with excitement.

"Oh?" Wei Jiajia tilted her head slightly, a confused yet innocent expression on her face. "I'm teaching here, and everyone in this audience is a woman. Sharing my insights and experiences as a woman, so you can avoid missteps and suffer less injustice, why should I be embarrassed?" She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, and her voice softened. "Could it be... that Madam Huangfu finds this difficult to bring up? Then... why don't I start by offering my humble opinion?"

Huangfu Ling was like a cat whose tail was stepped on, and blurted out: "You have served countless men, so naturally it is you who should have the say! We are a people of integrity and do not have your 'experience'!" These words almost tore the relationship apart.

The smile on Wei Jiajia's face finally blossomed, like a moonlit orchid, breathtakingly beautiful and a declaration of victory. She ignored the sting in Huangfu Ling's words and spoke in a low voice, clearly piercing everyone's ears: "Madam, you've misunderstood. Although Ningxiang was once the most beautiful courtesan, she only served one person."

She paused, her gaze seeming to penetrate the roof, with a hint of nostalgia.

"This man...is a man of great grace and talent. He wrote countless poems for me, each word a gem, each sentence full of emotion. Among them is the timeless masterpiece, 'Once you have seen the sea, all other waters are but puddles; except for Mount Wu, all other mounds are but mists.'" Her voice was dreamy and full of emotion. "That night, with the red candles flickering and the curtains parted, he..."

Then, Wei Jiajia, using remarkably beautiful, poetic, yet incredibly explicit language, describes a thrilling love affair between a man and a woman. She depicts the thrill of physical contact, the ecstasy of passionate love, the ultimate bliss of the fusion of soul and body... Every word is like a hook, luring the young girls' naive emotions and hidden desires.

This short piece of "sharing" is like throwing a huge rock into a calm lake.

When Wei Jiajia finished speaking, the entire classroom fell into an eerie silence, then erupted into an even more heated, uncontrollable chatter. The way many girls looked at Wei Jiajia completely changed—no longer with disdain or curiosity, but with adoring fanaticism!

"Oh my God... Mr. Wei... so bold! So... free and easy!" A young girl covered her burning cheeks with her hands, but her eyes were shining.

"Is this... is this what we women should be like? Not ashamed to talk about love, not ashamed to talk about desire... bloom like a flower, and live out our true selves?" Another girl murmured to herself, as if she had opened the door to a new world.

"The meaning of the courtesan... I see! Women are like flowers, they should be like Ms. Ningxiang, blooming freely and full of life! This is the true essence of 'boudoir arts'!" The arrogant girl in the goose yellow shirt before was now intoxicated and became one of Wei Jiajia's most fanatical fans.

Huangfu Ling sat there alone, as if he was in an ice cave.

That was clearly... that was clearly the poem he gave me on my wedding day...

She looked at the faces around her, captivated by Wei Jiajia's bewitching presence, and listened to the harsh praise. She felt a surge of humiliation and powerlessness. Wei Jiajia stood on the podium like a queen, while she, a loser, was forgotten and mocked by everyone.

She stood up suddenly, the chair legs making a harsh sound on the blue brick floor. Amidst the astonished gazes, she rushed out of the classroom without looking back, leaving behind only a back that was trembling slightly with anger and grievance.

Wei Jiajia looked at the direction she had fled in a hurry, and the victorious smile on the corner of her mouth finally bloomed without reservation, bright, but with a biting chill.