When the words left his mouth, Liang Feng realized that his tone wasn’t quite appropriate. He quickly adjusted his demeanor, saying, “Cold Food Poisoning can disturb one’s sanity, leading to either madness or indulgence. The things it makes people do are absurd and irrational. That day… you need not dwell on it.”
His tone was neither too light nor too heavy, offering a kind of comforting in a professional manner. Cold Food Powder had a notorious reputation. Those who took it would either draw their swords to chase after flies or act wantonly with concubines at banquets. It could be said that during the Jin dynasty, this medicinal powder played a significant role.
This was a perfectly reasonable explanation and an unquestionable excuse. It was an excellent reason to let both of them maintain their dignity and avoid that awkward episode.
However, Yiyan’s shoulders trembled. After kneeling for so long, his body had regained some vitality, almost merging with the furnishings of the room. It wasn’t vivid or composed; instead, he looked distressed, like a withered leaf in the cold wind. With just a bit more effort, he might fall from the treetop and shatter.
“Did the lord order me to… forget?” Yiyan raised his head, locking eyes with the figure on the bed with his azure gaze.
His voice quivered, resembling a whisper. It was a tone only someone with a broken heart would have, and the gleam in those eyes was like a desperate last-ditch effort.
Liang Feng couldn’t help but close his eyes. This was bad.
He wasn’t foolish. Although he was still in a hazy state after awakening from unconsciousness, his mind was foggy. But he knew very well about the chaotic events. This wasn’t just an “accident.” He had taken the drug, making his mind muddled and uncontrollable, just like any addict. But what about Yiyan? He hadn’t taken the drug, he hadn’t lost his sanity, and he had no reason to act under compulsion. If he wanted, there were a hundred ways for him to regain control and dissipate the effects of the drug.
But he didn’t.
Instead, all he showed was fervor. Their lips and tongues had intertwined, eager to consume each other down to the bone. Countless finger marks remained on his body, and just by closing his eyes, he could recall the maddening pressure between his thighs. No one could label this as an “accident.”
Yiyan had different intentions, and this intention had been coaxed beyond the boundaries of self-control by the drug.
Liang Feng couldn’t accept such a situation. After all, this was Yiyan! The general he had nurtured, the close disciple he treated as a confidant!
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Liang Feng had been in love for half his life, but he had never thought of being involved with another man. If it were someone else’s situation, he might have found it entertaining, a spectacle to watch. But when it happened to him, it was a different matter altogether!
That’s why he had given an escape route in advance, hoping that what needed to be concealed would continue to be hidden, even if ignored or unheard. However, the person in front of him didn’t follow that path to maintain their dignity.
“The lord can despise me, can send me away, but making me forget is absolutely impossible…” Yiyan trembled even more. When he noticed the evasion in the lord’s eyes, he understood that there was no way out of this situation.
He could have endured it, could have been a loyal and virtuous subordinate for a lifetime, just to stay by that person’s side. But everything had been ruined, ruined in a way that caught him off guard. And more than hating, he feared the evasion and perfunctoriness in that person’s eyes, feared that everything would vanish without a trace.
That disheveled appearance was almost too pitiable to witness. Liang Feng clutched the silk cover at his side, feeling the cold sweat breaking out on his own body. “Yiyan, you are still young, and your emotions can lead you astray. You have a bright future, why go through this…”
He was aware that his words sounded feeble, but in such a situation, what words could be appropriate?
“The lord saved me from the dust, without the lord, where would I be today?” Yiyan seemed to gradually control the trembling, slightly raising himself up and moving toward the bed, crawling slowly.
His physique was strong enough to support any action, but this crawling was staggeringly unsteady. It seemed as though he was about to collapse, yet also appeared utterly intoxicated. Nevertheless, despite the impending collapse, he remained unyielding.
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He knelt before Liang Feng and said, “If the lord desires to take my life, you may do so. But these three years, I dare not forget even for a moment…”
Yiyan lowered his head, pressing his forehead against the floor. There, a corner of Liang Feng’s robe hung down, making this action resemble worship and a humble act of homage. It was devout and humble, creating a sense of unease in one’s heart.
He hadn’t touched himself, but Liang Feng felt his own body trembling. Chaotic memories surged back. Liang Feng had overcome Cold Food Poisoning before and experienced the excruciating withdrawal symptoms. However, at that time, he had been dealing with a dying body, and the sensation nerves hadn’t felt the ultimate pleasure that came with taking the drug.
So, he could quit. He could quit cleanly. When you don’t know the joys, why fear abandonment?
But now, he had tasted genuine Cold Food Powder, the intoxicating, delightful, indescribable ecstasy. It could make you forget your troubles and reach the pinnacle of ecstasy. This was the most terrifying power of the drug. And now, that sensation had returned, as if a person just an arm’s length away wasn’t kissing his robe but kissing the soles of his feet, caressing his itchy skin…
“Absurd!” Liang Feng’s teeth began to grind. He glared at Yiyan’s bandaged hand and couldn’t help but curse. This was all too damn absurd!
If he were in his original state, would Yiyan have ventured down this damn path? If he hadn’t come to this bizarre world, would he have ended up in such an absurd situation?
Why? Just because of this face?
Yiyan was the Marshal of the Liang household, a general he had nurtured himself! To let things spiral into this, how would it end? Or did he know he couldn’t give up and that’s why he dared to threaten, to go all in?
“Absurd!”
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Anger and horror welled up simultaneously, and Liang Feng bent over, digging his nails into his leg. It was too itchy, too painful as if something wanted to gnaw on his bones! How could he tolerate this? How could he tolerate this?!
A suppressed low growl erupted from his throat.
Yiyan suddenly raised his head, his eyes showing a look of shock, and in the next moment, he pounced, tightly grabbing Liang Feng’s wrist. “Lord, your illness is triggered!”
Yiyan had seen this before, had seen self-mutilation and madness like this. But he hadn’t expected that just a dose of Cold Food Powder would bring the lord to such a dire state.
Liang Feng, however, didn’t stop, continuing to struggle desperately. In his mind, what was once clear gradually became chaotic, leaving only the primal desire. Give him something to break free, give him solace!
An embrace tightly enveloped him, arms like iron clamps, fastened to his chest. It felt like being trapped in a cage, with all his movements suppressed, even his lips pressed against something. It was something he was familiar with.
His teeth sunk into flesh, tearing through the skin. Rough, powerful hands gripped his shoulders fiercely. The sensation was painfully familiar, even making his clenched teeth loosen for a moment.
“Get out…” Liang Feng, after releasing his bloodied shoulder with great effort, managed to utter a few words.
The person above him trembled slightly and raised his voice, “Qing Mei! Summon Doctor Jiang! The lord is having an episode!”
Just hearing that sentence, Liang Feng’s consciousness blurred once again. However, the firm arm remained in place.
There was a commotion outside, and Jiang Da rushed in. Seeing the scene inside the room, his face changed. “Why is it happening so quickly?”
Yiyan’s eyes were bloodshot. “Is there any medicine to calm the lord down?”
“When the illness is triggered, no medicine can help. Only by taking Cold Food Powder…” Jiang Da cursed angrily, “Damn it! How much of it did this rascal use?”
“We can’t give it to him again!” Yiyan answered decisively.
Jiang Da knew this well. The lord’s body was already weak, and the poison had taken a toll. After three years of careful treatment by himself and Ge Hong, the lord had finally regained his health. Now, it was all ruined!
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“We can’t administer acupuncture right now. Find a few people to restrain the lord’s limbs to prevent him from harming himself or others during the episode…” Jiang Da couldn’t help but say when he saw the blood dripping from Yiyan’s shoulder.
“No need. I can handle it. Don’t let the lord get hurt.” Yiyan didn’t release the person in his arms; instead, he held him even tighter.
“You… Ah!” Jiang Da stomped his foot in frustration. “Hurry and fetch the calming incense and my medicine kit!”
There was no time to worry about much else; treating the illness was the top priority.
Ignoring the chaotic crowd, Yiyan turned his head and placed his hand on the lord’s head. Silky black hair flowed between his fingers, as thick as a raven’s plumage. It seemed like if he let go, the person in his arms would fly away.
But there was no one who could make him let go.
No one can!
※
It took Wang Bin a full seven days to return to You County from Leping. The journey had been filled with fear and uncertainty. Their escort was already minimal, and the chaos of battle had left them as a scattered and broken force. And traveling through regions like Ji County, where the fighting was rampant, and bandits were countless, how could fifty or sixty men be sufficient?
Fortunately, they encountered a group of You County soldiers hunting down bandits along the way, which allowed him to safely return to his homeland.
The whole experience had been incredibly harrowing, and it left him itching with anger. Although he was merely a bastard, as the beloved son of Wang Jun, the Governor of You County, Wang Bin had never experienced such hardship. That Liang Zixi was going to pay for this!
Upon his return, Wang Bin went directly to his residence to freshen up. He didn’t dare to linger and immediately made his way to his father’s official residence. He was determined to explain this matter carefully to his father!
However, upon entering the study, Wang Jun was sitting behind his desk, his face stern. When he saw Wang Bin, he raised an eyebrow slightly. “You’ve returned from Leping?”
“Father, I have failed to carry out the assigned task…” Wang Bin choked on his words and knelt, “That Liang Zixi, he was just too audacious…”
Wang Jun raised a hand to stop Wang Bin. “Shangdang has sent a letter.”
“Ah?” Wang Bin was taken aback. A letter from Shangdang, and it arrived in You County before he did? Was it from Liang Zixi?
Wang Jun picked up a piece of paper from the desk and handed it to his son. “Take a look.”
Wang Bin accepted the letter and read it carefully. The writing was elegant, but the content left him puzzled.
“Sick and feeble, why use the Cold Food Powder to harm each other? Our paths diverge, and there’s no need to conspire together.”
Cold Food Powder? What was Cold Food Powder? Wang Bin looked up in confusion, meeting his father’s stern gaze.
Seeing his son’s expression, Wang Jun’s face grew even colder. “It’s been said that Liang Zixi was poisoned with the Cold Food Powder by you and almost lost his life. Is this true?”
When the words left his mouth, Liang Feng realized that his tone wasn’t quite appropriate. He quickly adjusted his demeanor, saying, “Cold Food Poisoning can disturb one’s sanity, leading to either madness or indulgence. The things it makes people do are absurd and irrational. That day… you need not dwell on it.”
His tone was neither too light nor too heavy, offering a kind of comforting in a professional manner. Cold Food Powder had a notorious reputation. Those who took it would either draw their swords to chase after flies or act wantonly with concubines at banquets. It could be said that during the Jin dynasty, this medicinal powder played a significant role.
This was a perfectly reasonable explanation and an unquestionable excuse. It was an excellent reason to let both of them maintain their dignity and avoid that awkward episode.
However, Yiyan’s shoulders trembled. After kneeling for so long, his body had regained some vitality, almost merging with the furnishings of the room. It wasn’t vivid or composed; instead, he looked distressed, like a withered leaf in the cold wind. With just a bit more effort, he might fall from the treetop and shatter.
“Did the lord order me to… forget?” Yiyan raised his head, locking eyes with the figure on the bed with his azure gaze.
His voice quivered, resembling a whisper. It was a tone only someone with a broken heart would have, and the gleam in those eyes was like a desperate last-ditch effort.
Liang Feng couldn’t help but close his eyes. This was bad.
He wasn’t foolish. Although he was still in a hazy state after awakening from unconsciousness, his mind was foggy. But he knew very well about the chaotic events. This wasn’t just an “accident.” He had taken the drug, making his mind muddled and uncontrollable, just like any addict. But what about Yiyan? He hadn’t taken the drug, he hadn’t lost his sanity, and he had no reason to act under compulsion. If he wanted, there were a hundred ways for him to regain control and dissipate the effects of the drug.
But he didn’t.
Instead, all he showed was fervor. Their lips and tongues had intertwined, eager to consume each other down to the bone. Countless finger marks remained on his body, and just by closing his eyes, he could recall the maddening pressure between his thighs. No one could label this as an “accident.”
Yiyan had different intentions, and this intention had been coaxed beyond the boundaries of self-control by the drug.
Liang Feng couldn’t accept such a situation. After all, this was Yiyan! The general he had nurtured, the close disciple he treated as a confidant!
Advertisement
Liang Feng had been in love for half his life, but he had never thought of being involved with another man. If it were someone else’s situation, he might have found it entertaining, a spectacle to watch. But when it happened to him, it was a different matter altogether!
That’s why he had given an escape route in advance, hoping that what needed to be concealed would continue to be hidden, even if ignored or unheard. However, the person in front of him didn’t follow that path to maintain their dignity.
“The lord can despise me, can send me away, but making me forget is absolutely impossible…” Yiyan trembled even more. When he noticed the evasion in the lord’s eyes, he understood that there was no way out of this situation.
He could have endured it, could have been a loyal and virtuous subordinate for a lifetime, just to stay by that person’s side. But everything had been ruined, ruined in a way that caught him off guard. And more than hating, he feared the evasion and perfunctoriness in that person’s eyes, feared that everything would vanish without a trace.
That disheveled appearance was almost too pitiable to witness. Liang Feng clutched the silk cover at his side, feeling the cold sweat breaking out on his own body. “Yiyan, you are still young, and your emotions can lead you astray. You have a bright future, why go through this…”
He was aware that his words sounded feeble, but in such a situation, what words could be appropriate?
“The lord saved me from the dust, without the lord, where would I be today?” Yiyan seemed to gradually control the trembling, slightly raising himself up and moving toward the bed, crawling slowly.
His physique was strong enough to support any action, but this crawling was staggeringly unsteady. It seemed as though he was about to collapse, yet also appeared utterly intoxicated. Nevertheless, despite the impending collapse, he remained unyielding.
Advertisement
He knelt before Liang Feng and said, “If the lord desires to take my life, you may do so. But these three years, I dare not forget even for a moment…”
Yiyan lowered his head, pressing his forehead against the floor. There, a corner of Liang Feng’s robe hung down, making this action resemble worship and a humble act of homage. It was devout and humble, creating a sense of unease in one’s heart.
He hadn’t touched himself, but Liang Feng felt his own body trembling. Chaotic memories surged back. Liang Feng had overcome Cold Food Poisoning before and experienced the excruciating withdrawal symptoms. However, at that time, he had been dealing with a dying body, and the sensation nerves hadn’t felt the ultimate pleasure that came with taking the drug.
So, he could quit. He could quit cleanly. When you don’t know the joys, why fear abandonment?
But now, he had tasted genuine Cold Food Powder, the intoxicating, delightful, indescribable ecstasy. It could make you forget your troubles and reach the pinnacle of ecstasy. This was the most terrifying power of the drug. And now, that sensation had returned, as if a person just an arm’s length away wasn’t kissing his robe but kissing the soles of his feet, caressing his itchy skin…
“Absurd!” Liang Feng’s teeth began to grind. He glared at Yiyan’s bandaged hand and couldn’t help but curse. This was all too damn absurd!
If he were in his original state, would Yiyan have ventured down this damn path? If he hadn’t come to this bizarre world, would he have ended up in such an absurd situation?
Why? Just because of this face?
Yiyan was the Marshal of the Liang household, a general he had nurtured himself! To let things spiral into this, how would it end? Or did he know he couldn’t give up and that’s why he dared to threaten, to go all in?
“Absurd!”
Advertisement
Anger and horror welled up simultaneously, and Liang Feng bent over, digging his nails into his leg. It was too itchy, too painful as if something wanted to gnaw on his bones! How could he tolerate this? How could he tolerate this?!
A suppressed low growl erupted from his throat.
Yiyan suddenly raised his head, his eyes showing a look of shock, and in the next moment, he pounced, tightly grabbing Liang Feng’s wrist. “Lord, your illness is triggered!”
Yiyan had seen this before, had seen self-mutilation and madness like this. But he hadn’t expected that just a dose of Cold Food Powder would bring the lord to such a dire state.
Liang Feng, however, didn’t stop, continuing to struggle desperately. In his mind, what was once clear gradually became chaotic, leaving only the primal desire. Give him something to break free, give him solace!
An embrace tightly enveloped him, arms like iron clamps, fastened to his chest. It felt like being trapped in a cage, with all his movements suppressed, even his lips pressed against something. It was something he was familiar with.
His teeth sunk into flesh, tearing through the skin. Rough, powerful hands gripped his shoulders fiercely. The sensation was painfully familiar, even making his clenched teeth loosen for a moment.
“Get out…” Liang Feng, after releasing his bloodied shoulder with great effort, managed to utter a few words.
The person above him trembled slightly and raised his voice, “Qing Mei! Summon Doctor Jiang! The lord is having an episode!”
Just hearing that sentence, Liang Feng’s consciousness blurred once again. However, the firm arm remained in place.
There was a commotion outside, and Jiang Da rushed in. Seeing the scene inside the room, his face changed. “Why is it happening so quickly?”
Yiyan’s eyes were bloodshot. “Is there any medicine to calm the lord down?”
“When the illness is triggered, no medicine can help. Only by taking Cold Food Powder…” Jiang Da cursed angrily, “Damn it! How much of it did this rascal use?”
“We can’t give it to him again!” Yiyan answered decisively.
Jiang Da knew this well. The lord’s body was already weak, and the poison had taken a toll. After three years of careful treatment by himself and Ge Hong, the lord had finally regained his health. Now, it was all ruined!
Advertisement
“We can’t administer acupuncture right now. Find a few people to restrain the lord’s limbs to prevent him from harming himself or others during the episode…” Jiang Da couldn’t help but say when he saw the blood dripping from Yiyan’s shoulder.
“No need. I can handle it. Don’t let the lord get hurt.” Yiyan didn’t release the person in his arms; instead, he held him even tighter.
“You… Ah!” Jiang Da stomped his foot in frustration. “Hurry and fetch the calming incense and my medicine kit!”
There was no time to worry about much else; treating the illness was the top priority.
Ignoring the chaotic crowd, Yiyan turned his head and placed his hand on the lord’s head. Silky black hair flowed between his fingers, as thick as a raven’s plumage. It seemed like if he let go, the person in his arms would fly away.
But there was no one who could make him let go.
No one can!
※
It took Wang Bin a full seven days to return to You County from Leping. The journey had been filled with fear and uncertainty. Their escort was already minimal, and the chaos of battle had left them as a scattered and broken force. And traveling through regions like Ji County, where the fighting was rampant, and bandits were countless, how could fifty or sixty men be sufficient?
Fortunately, they encountered a group of You County soldiers hunting down bandits along the way, which allowed him to safely return to his homeland.
The whole experience had been incredibly harrowing, and it left him itching with anger. Although he was merely a bastard, as the beloved son of Wang Jun, the Governor of You County, Wang Bin had never experienced such hardship. That Liang Zixi was going to pay for this!
Upon his return, Wang Bin went directly to his residence to freshen up. He didn’t dare to linger and immediately made his way to his father’s official residence. He was determined to explain this matter carefully to his father!
However, upon entering the study, Wang Jun was sitting behind his desk, his face stern. When he saw Wang Bin, he raised an eyebrow slightly. “You’ve returned from Leping?”
“Father, I have failed to carry out the assigned task…” Wang Bin choked on his words and knelt, “That Liang Zixi, he was just too audacious…”
Wang Jun raised a hand to stop Wang Bin. “Shangdang has sent a letter.”
“Ah?” Wang Bin was taken aback. A letter from Shangdang, and it arrived in You County before he did? Was it from Liang Zixi?
Wang Jun picked up a piece of paper from the desk and handed it to his son. “Take a look.”
Wang Bin accepted the letter and read it carefully. The writing was elegant, but the content left him puzzled.
“Sick and feeble, why use the Cold Food Powder to harm each other? Our paths diverge, and there’s no need to conspire together.”
Cold Food Powder? What was Cold Food Powder? Wang Bin looked up in confusion, meeting his father’s stern gaze.
Seeing his son’s expression, Wang Jun’s face grew even colder. “It’s been said that Liang Zixi was poisoned with the Cold Food Powder by you and almost lost his life. Is this true?”
