This question asked was heart-wrenching, and cold sweat dripped down Wang Bin’s back: “My Lord! I, as a child, am on a mission; how dare I act so recklessly?! It must be… It must be…”
He repeated ‘It must be’ twice, and Wang Bin didn’t say the words that followed. What could it be? Could Liang Zixi have sent a letter from afar to slander him with accusations of poisoning?
Although it was just a chance encounter, Wang Bin couldn’t believe that the elegant and handsome young man he had seen could be such a despicable person. His demeanor didn’t match, and his character was even less likely.
“Tell me in detail about what happened that day,” Wang Jun said, disregarding his son’s foolish appearance.
Wang Bin didn’t dare to hide this matter, and he described in great detail the circumstances of their meeting that day. He even recounted the words he had spoken at the banquet and the other party’s reactions.
“After learning of my lord’s intentions, Liang Zixi left the table and then withdrew his camp,” Wang Bin said with a restrained tone. “He clearly had no intention of supporting You County. It’s downright arrogant!”
“Did they serve lamb head soup in the end?” Wang Jun, however, caught onto this point. “Who prepared the soup?”
“It was prepared by the kitchen staff, all of them are elderly servants from the mansion,” Wang Bin replied, puzzled.
“How did Liang Zixi look after finishing the soup?” Wang Jun inquired further.
“Well…” Wang Bin immediately recalled the events of that day, “Yes, after he finished the soup, his complexion suddenly turned pale. I initially thought he was just fatigued. Could there have been poison in the soup? But why would anyone want to harm that man surnamed Liang?”
“Foolish!” Wang Jun couldn’t bear it any longer and scolded, “Quickly send someone to apprehend the cook!”
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Wang Bin only realized this at this moment, and his face immediately became extremely unpleasant.
“How could this be harming Liang Zixi? It’s clear they want to thwart Father’s grand plan! Such wolfish ambition, how could we not guard against it?!”
Wang Jun, who was watching with a cold eye, shook his head inwardly.
Although this son is usually capable, in critical moments, he is still not as good as others.
Just like Liang Zixi, who suffered such a loss but still sent a letter.
It can be said that the other party’s demeanor is excellent, sending a letter specifically to explain why they won’t join forces with him.
It can also be seen as the other party having already guessed that it wasn’t Wang Bin who harmed him and wanting to use him to eliminate the poisoner.
Regardless of the intention, this approach is straightforward and efficient.
In contrast, Wang Bin, who still can’t grasp the situation, is truly a step behind.
It seems the illegitimate son is still not fit for significant tasks. He can only hope that the young legitimate son grows up quickly.
Wang Jun shifted his gaze and didn’t let Wang Bin leave. The two of them sat down in the study, awaiting the outcome of the questioning.”
On the other side, watching the guards from the Commander’s Mansion entering the courtyard to take someone, Zhang Dian broke out in a cold sweat.
“What’s going on?” he asked quietly to a nearby servant.”
“It, it seems like they want to take the cook…” the servant stammered, unable to explain.
There was no need for a second hint; Zhang Dian suddenly understood. This was related to Leping, and the clues had been missed!
Where exactly did the problem arise? He couldn’t fathom it but didn’t dare to delay. He immediately returned to his room to pack his belongings.
Half an hour later, with a small bundle, Zhang Dian and his trusted servant rode out of the mansion. As a close confidant of Wang Bin, he assumed an air of handling important matters, and no one dared to stop him.
They had a smooth journey and left Ji City. The loyal servant asked with a trembling voice, “Master, where are we heading now?”
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A fire burned within Zhang Dian’s heart, and he said coldly, “In times of chaos, there’s nowhere we can’t go. Let’s start by visiting Si County!”
Combining marriage affairs with official duties resulted in a complete mess. If it weren’t for that cursed illness, he wouldn’t be in such a plight! He must settle this grudge; it’s unbecoming otherwise. He’ll reclaim it little by little.
The old servant was still uneasy. “But, why didn’t we bring those letters…”
Zhang Dian gave a sardonic smile. “Haha, if I can’t marry her, can someone else?” He didn’t answer and instead shouted “Let’s go!” His horse obeyed and galloped towards the distance.
In less than half an hour, the cook revealed the details of that day. There was no poisoning, and no one else was involved. It was only Captain Zhang who urged her to serve, and he even added some scallions.
Upon hearing this, Wang Bin couldn’t help but widen his eyes. “Captain Zhang? How could it be him?”
Zhang Dian had pledged loyalty to him two years ago and had proven to be clever, assisting him in various matters. How could he act maliciously in a situation like this?”
Without any regard for his father, he hurriedly said, “Go back to the mansion and bring that man here. I need to question him thoroughly!”
The trusted servant responded, “Captain Zhang has long left the Commandant’s Mansion, saying he had important matters to attend to. He has already left the city.”
Now, Wang Bin was completely dumbfounded. How could it turn out like this?
Wang Jun, not minding how foolish his son had acted, immediately asked, “Did you find anything in his room?”
“The confidential documents have all been taken away. Only a few letters were left,” the trusted servant replied quickly, presenting the discovered items.
Wang Jun hastily skimmed through them and couldn’t help but curse, “What a treacherous dog! Look at what you’ve invited!”
Wang Bin’s face turned crimson. He picked up the letters that his father had thrown in front of him and, upon reading them, was left dumbfounded. These were indeed love letters from several women, and to make matters worse, the sender of one of them happened to be the very lady Wang Wen intended to marry into the Liang family.
“This… this…” Wang Bin’s hands were trembling. Who could have imagined that it would come to this, all because of the treacherous ambition of one cunning person? Wanting to marry into the Wang family, yet harming the prospective fiancé of the other party? What audacity!
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“Send someone to pursue! Retrieve it for me!” This was intolerable; Wang Bin exclaimed angrily.
Wang Jun, on the other hand, had calmed down and, after a moment of contemplation, said with a cold smile, “Such letters, they should be shown to Jiulang…”
Jiulang is precisely the father of the girl who was to be married, Wang Rou.
This man is also one who covets reputation and is very concerned about his image.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have accepted the marriage proposal to Shangdang.
If he were to find out about this, could the young lady still be married off?
“Father?” Wang Bin was taken aback. Was this about ruining the alliance between the Liang family and the Wang family?
“Can Liang Zixi be of any use to me?” Wang Jun asked in return.
“No!” On this point, Wang Bin was quite certain.
“Since he can’t be of any use, why bother supporting him? It would be better for the Wang family of Taiyuan to cut ties with such a lowly house.”
After all, he’s nothing more than a regional governor. This is also their best option now.
A lifelong enemy naturally remains so. There’s no need to give him an opportunity to gain leverage.
Wang Bin now understood: ‘What Father says makes sense! Hmph, once we’ve dealt with others, Shangdang will be of no concern.'”
Seeing his son finally come to his senses, Wang Jun said coldly, “In the future, you should keep your mansion under strict control. Don’t let such absurd incidents happen again.”
After dealing with such an embarrassing matter, Wang Bin didn’t dare to talk back and obediently knelt down to admit his mistake. Wang Jun scolded him a few more times with a stern face before calling a trusted servant and giving orders.
※
Liang Feng slowly opened his eyes, but within the curtains, there was no light.
Thick curtains blocked all sources of light, making day and night blend into a chaotic blur.
He didn’t know how many days he had been lying there.
Since waking up that day, withdrawal symptoms had completely plagued him.
Liang Feng didn’t have clear and reliable memories; his mind held only fragmented, intermittent images.
Tears flowed, fear of light, insomnia-induced mutterings—these were the mildest symptoms.
In severe cases, it was a pain like a thousand arrows piercing the heart, a torment akin to being devoured by ants.
He might have gone mad, screaming and howling; he might have lost control of his bladder; he might have torn, bitten, and rolled about; he might have exhibited horrifying and detestable behavior, revealing all the ugliness within.
It was involuntary, to the extent that even the memories too shameful to be retained were erased.
However, every time he woke up, it was like this. He lay clean and comfortable on the couch, shrouded in soothing darkness, with the scent of calming incense wafting gently into his nostrils. And there was that hand gripping his arm.
Liang Feng tried to lift his wrist slightly.
He didn’t raise his arm, but this subtle movement still awakened the person beside the couch.
“Lord…” A hoarse voice sounded as if lacking vitality due to sleep deprivation and prolonged fatigue.
However, upon hearing that voice, Liang Feng strangely felt that some of the unease in his chest was alleviated. Because for countless days and nights, whenever he had some consciousness, this voice had accompanied him.
“Do you want some water? I’ll go call someone,” Yiyan was now fully awake, sitting up by the couch, and asked softly.
Liang Feng tried to speak several times before managing to squeeze out the word, “Congee…”
Yiyan’s eyes lit up immediately! Over these days, the Lord had almost stopped eating and drinking, and this was the first time he had asked for food. Yiyan immediately called out loudly, “Qing Mei, bring some congee!”
After shouting, Yiyan didn’t leave. He reached for a nearby water bowl and handed it to Liang Feng’s lips, saying, “Lord, have some water first to moisten your throat.”
There seemed to be something mixed in the water, but Liang Feng’s tongue was as numb as wood, and he couldn’t discern it at all. He took a few shallow sips and then stopped.
Yiyan didn’t insist further. After putting down the bowl, he picked up a cloth and carefully wiped away the traces of water from his lips.
This gesture was a bit too intimate. Liang Feng turned his head slightly, took a breath, and asked, “What day is it?”
Yiyan’s hand stiffened for a moment, then he spoke softly, “It’s been five days. Dr. Jiang said that as long as you get through the first few days, it’ll be alright.”
Liang Feng understood the reasoning behind it. The withdrawal period was a time for the body to adjust to the absence of addictive substances. Within ninety days, the metabolism would cleanse all impurities.
However, what was truly fatal wasn’t the physical aspect but the psychological one.
Once a person knows how much happiness those substances can bring, the psychological addiction takes root and becomes difficult to eradicate.
He couldn’t specify what addictive substances were in the Cold Food Powder, but what he was sure of was that his mindset wasn’t as clean as it had been during his first withdrawal.
At that moment, the curtains were drawn open. Liang Feng squinted slightly to adjust to the light inside the room.”
It was daytime, but he wasn’t sure of the exact time. Qing Mei was carefully holding a meal tray, kneeling by the couch, and said, “My lord, here’s the congee.”
A hand behind him supported him, gently helping him sit up.
Liang Feng took another breath, opened his mouth, and let Qing Mei feed him.
When he saw the not-so-thick congee, Liang Feng realized that he didn’t actually have an appetite.
The feeling of hunger seemed to have vanished. There was a heavy lump in his stomach, and even though he knew he should eat something, looking at the congee didn’t elicit any sensation.
However, Liang Feng still ate. Silently swallowing one mouthful after another.
Reason and the body seemed to be severed into two halves, alternating in their struggle.
However, this struggle only lasted a few minutes. Suddenly, Liang Feng hesitated and bent over, vomiting.
The splattering congee and stomach mucus gushed out together, splashing onto the clothing of the person beside him.
“My lord!” Qing Mei was so shocked that she dropped the bowl.
Yiyan, however, didn’t care about the stains. He quickly patted Liang Feng’s back to help him clear his throat of impurities.
Seeing that the other person had vomited everything, he didn’t say a word. He bent down and lifted Liang Feng, carrying him to the nearby low couch.
“Get some water! Let the lord rinse his mouth!” Yiyan ordered in a low voice.
Only then did the young girl react. She hurriedly got up, brought warm water, and served Liang Feng to drink.
On the side, the servants swiftly tidied up the couch and replaced the bedding.
Everything was done very smoothly. Liang Feng couldn’t help but wonder how many times he had lost control in recent days.
Once everything was tidy, a set of new clothes was placed nearby.
Liang Feng, however, didn’t make a move and kept his gaze fixed on the person supporting him at the side.
Yiyan remained silent for a moment, then stepped back.
Qing Mei quickly approached and helped Liang Feng change out of the soiled clothing. She used clean water to wash his hands and face.
In no time at all, the filth had disappeared once more.
With his gaze slightly lowered, Liang Feng looked a few steps away.
There, impurities were still congealed on Yiyan’s dark-colored clothing, a mixture of yellow and white, emitting a foul odor.
However, that gaze with substance seemed to be locked onto him and hadn’t left for a moment.
This won’t do. Drowsy and eyelids heavy, Liang Feng thought. The longer he stays, the harder it is for that person to let go. This will cause an uncontrollable mess. Perhaps it’s time for a battle, to push that person away, and in a couple of years, everything will return to normal. He will marry, and so will I. Let those youthful impulses dissipate. What can’t be given to him, why allow people to have illusions?
Just as he was thinking, Jiang Da rushed in quickly: “My lord, you’re awake? How do you feel?”
“Not too bad…” Liang Feng didn’t know how to describe his current state. What other answer could there be?
“My lord just had some congee and vomited it all up again,” Yiyan said in a deep voice.
“Want to have congee” Jiang Da let out a sigh, “Alright, next time, don’t drink it too thick and too fast. Feed it in small portions. First, let’s get some sugar water to soothe your stomach.”
With that said, he approached and carefully checked Liang Feng’s pulse and examined his tongue coating.
“The trembling isn’t as severe as before. My lord, you should go back to the bed, and I’ll continue to check other aspects.” Without waiting for Liang Feng’s resistance, Jiang Da helped him back to the clean bed.
With his hands, he pressed gently on Liang Feng’s chest and abdomen, while asking about sensations.
“I can endure it.” Liang Feng spoke honestly, providing detailed answers to Jiang Da’s questions.
After a series of examinations, he asked, “How is the situation?”
“It’s better than last time. With another year of care, you should recover. However, you must never take Cold Food Powder again!” Jiang Da solemnly warned.
However, just hearing that word from someone made Liang Feng feel an unbearable itch in his heart, and it pricked at his skin.
Clamping his teeth tightly, he suppressed the discomfort deep within and nodded slowly.
However, Jiang Da was still concerned. He watched as Liang Feng drank the sugar water and then said, “Taking medicine may be difficult now, so acupuncture might be more suitable. My lord, can you bear it?”
In reality, his body still involuntarily trembled slightly, but Liang Feng nodded.
Jiang Da was still concerned and turned to Yiyan, saying, “Boyuan, lend a hand. Hold down my lord’s calf while I administer the acupuncture.”
Just as Liang Feng was about to refuse, Yiyan had already removed his soiled robe, wearing only his inner garment as he knelt beside the bed.
A pair of warm, powerful hands gripped Liang Feng’s leg.
Perhaps due to the lingering effects of the medicine, Liang Feng’s calf twitched. Every inch of his skin felt the touch of that person’s hands. The rough calluses from archery and martial training, the sturdy joints, and the coarseness of the palms, all felt like restraints, binding him to the bed.
Having lost the best opportunity to refuse, Liang Feng closed his mouth and even shut his eyes. It was time to let this person leave as soon as possible!
However, Liang Feng didn’t notice that as soon as those hands were placed on his leg, the seemingly never-ending tremors gradually subsided, as if being smoothed away, disappearing.
The author has something to say:
Seeing discussions about addiction in the comments, I’d like to clarify the dangers of Cold Food Powder. In the Jin Dynasty, the renowned acupuncture and moxibustion expert, Huangfu Mi, wrote, “It violates proper limits, inflicting hardship and harm. In the past seven years, during the severe cold of winter, people who consumed it while naked in icy conditions experienced discomfort and fever. It caused symptoms resembling hot malaria or conditions similar to typhoid fever, leading to swelling, bloating, and severe limb pain.”
As mentioned earlier, there’s the case of Pei Xiu. After consuming Cold Food Powder, he burned up internally, required hundreds of stones doused in water, and still succumbed within a month.”
Even in the case of He Yan himself, “His spirit didn’t stay at home, his blood lost its luster, his vitality was drained, and he looked like a withered tree, referred to as a ghostly state.”
Those who died from Cold Food Powder numbered more than one could count since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and there was hardly any cure. The formula itself has become taboo.
This was over a thousand years ago, without the refined addictive drugs we have today. Can you imagine what today’s illicit drugs would do?
The text is just a work of fiction. Please do not entertain any notion of trying drugs, as they can destroy lives and families. Addiction is difficult to overcome and can cause irreversible damage to both mental and physical health. Do not be tempted by any glorified or disguised narratives. Just stay away.
This question asked was heart-wrenching, and cold sweat dripped down Wang Bin’s back: “My Lord! I, as a child, am on a mission; how dare I act so recklessly?! It must be… It must be…”
He repeated ‘It must be’ twice, and Wang Bin didn’t say the words that followed. What could it be? Could Liang Zixi have sent a letter from afar to slander him with accusations of poisoning?
Although it was just a chance encounter, Wang Bin couldn’t believe that the elegant and handsome young man he had seen could be such a despicable person. His demeanor didn’t match, and his character was even less likely.
“Tell me in detail about what happened that day,” Wang Jun said, disregarding his son’s foolish appearance.
Wang Bin didn’t dare to hide this matter, and he described in great detail the circumstances of their meeting that day. He even recounted the words he had spoken at the banquet and the other party’s reactions.
“After learning of my lord’s intentions, Liang Zixi left the table and then withdrew his camp,” Wang Bin said with a restrained tone. “He clearly had no intention of supporting You County. It’s downright arrogant!”
“Did they serve lamb head soup in the end?” Wang Jun, however, caught onto this point. “Who prepared the soup?”
“It was prepared by the kitchen staff, all of them are elderly servants from the mansion,” Wang Bin replied, puzzled.
“How did Liang Zixi look after finishing the soup?” Wang Jun inquired further.
“Well…” Wang Bin immediately recalled the events of that day, “Yes, after he finished the soup, his complexion suddenly turned pale. I initially thought he was just fatigued. Could there have been poison in the soup? But why would anyone want to harm that man surnamed Liang?”
“Foolish!” Wang Jun couldn’t bear it any longer and scolded, “Quickly send someone to apprehend the cook!”
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Wang Bin only realized this at this moment, and his face immediately became extremely unpleasant.
“How could this be harming Liang Zixi? It’s clear they want to thwart Father’s grand plan! Such wolfish ambition, how could we not guard against it?!”
Wang Jun, who was watching with a cold eye, shook his head inwardly.
Although this son is usually capable, in critical moments, he is still not as good as others.
Just like Liang Zixi, who suffered such a loss but still sent a letter.
It can be said that the other party’s demeanor is excellent, sending a letter specifically to explain why they won’t join forces with him.
It can also be seen as the other party having already guessed that it wasn’t Wang Bin who harmed him and wanting to use him to eliminate the poisoner.
Regardless of the intention, this approach is straightforward and efficient.
In contrast, Wang Bin, who still can’t grasp the situation, is truly a step behind.
It seems the illegitimate son is still not fit for significant tasks. He can only hope that the young legitimate son grows up quickly.
Wang Jun shifted his gaze and didn’t let Wang Bin leave. The two of them sat down in the study, awaiting the outcome of the questioning.”
On the other side, watching the guards from the Commander’s Mansion entering the courtyard to take someone, Zhang Dian broke out in a cold sweat.
“What’s going on?” he asked quietly to a nearby servant.”
“It, it seems like they want to take the cook…” the servant stammered, unable to explain.
There was no need for a second hint; Zhang Dian suddenly understood. This was related to Leping, and the clues had been missed!
Where exactly did the problem arise? He couldn’t fathom it but didn’t dare to delay. He immediately returned to his room to pack his belongings.
Half an hour later, with a small bundle, Zhang Dian and his trusted servant rode out of the mansion. As a close confidant of Wang Bin, he assumed an air of handling important matters, and no one dared to stop him.
They had a smooth journey and left Ji City. The loyal servant asked with a trembling voice, “Master, where are we heading now?”
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A fire burned within Zhang Dian’s heart, and he said coldly, “In times of chaos, there’s nowhere we can’t go. Let’s start by visiting Si County!”
Combining marriage affairs with official duties resulted in a complete mess. If it weren’t for that cursed illness, he wouldn’t be in such a plight! He must settle this grudge; it’s unbecoming otherwise. He’ll reclaim it little by little.
The old servant was still uneasy. “But, why didn’t we bring those letters…”
Zhang Dian gave a sardonic smile. “Haha, if I can’t marry her, can someone else?” He didn’t answer and instead shouted “Let’s go!” His horse obeyed and galloped towards the distance.
In less than half an hour, the cook revealed the details of that day. There was no poisoning, and no one else was involved. It was only Captain Zhang who urged her to serve, and he even added some scallions.
Upon hearing this, Wang Bin couldn’t help but widen his eyes. “Captain Zhang? How could it be him?”
Zhang Dian had pledged loyalty to him two years ago and had proven to be clever, assisting him in various matters. How could he act maliciously in a situation like this?”
Without any regard for his father, he hurriedly said, “Go back to the mansion and bring that man here. I need to question him thoroughly!”
The trusted servant responded, “Captain Zhang has long left the Commandant’s Mansion, saying he had important matters to attend to. He has already left the city.”
Now, Wang Bin was completely dumbfounded. How could it turn out like this?
Wang Jun, not minding how foolish his son had acted, immediately asked, “Did you find anything in his room?”
“The confidential documents have all been taken away. Only a few letters were left,” the trusted servant replied quickly, presenting the discovered items.
Wang Jun hastily skimmed through them and couldn’t help but curse, “What a treacherous dog! Look at what you’ve invited!”
Wang Bin’s face turned crimson. He picked up the letters that his father had thrown in front of him and, upon reading them, was left dumbfounded. These were indeed love letters from several women, and to make matters worse, the sender of one of them happened to be the very lady Wang Wen intended to marry into the Liang family.
“This… this…” Wang Bin’s hands were trembling. Who could have imagined that it would come to this, all because of the treacherous ambition of one cunning person? Wanting to marry into the Wang family, yet harming the prospective fiancé of the other party? What audacity!
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“Send someone to pursue! Retrieve it for me!” This was intolerable; Wang Bin exclaimed angrily.
Wang Jun, on the other hand, had calmed down and, after a moment of contemplation, said with a cold smile, “Such letters, they should be shown to Jiulang…”
Jiulang is precisely the father of the girl who was to be married, Wang Rou.
This man is also one who covets reputation and is very concerned about his image.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have accepted the marriage proposal to Shangdang.
If he were to find out about this, could the young lady still be married off?
“Father?” Wang Bin was taken aback. Was this about ruining the alliance between the Liang family and the Wang family?
“Can Liang Zixi be of any use to me?” Wang Jun asked in return.
“No!” On this point, Wang Bin was quite certain.
“Since he can’t be of any use, why bother supporting him? It would be better for the Wang family of Taiyuan to cut ties with such a lowly house.”
After all, he’s nothing more than a regional governor. This is also their best option now.
A lifelong enemy naturally remains so. There’s no need to give him an opportunity to gain leverage.
Wang Bin now understood: ‘What Father says makes sense! Hmph, once we’ve dealt with others, Shangdang will be of no concern.'”
Seeing his son finally come to his senses, Wang Jun said coldly, “In the future, you should keep your mansion under strict control. Don’t let such absurd incidents happen again.”
After dealing with such an embarrassing matter, Wang Bin didn’t dare to talk back and obediently knelt down to admit his mistake. Wang Jun scolded him a few more times with a stern face before calling a trusted servant and giving orders.
※
Liang Feng slowly opened his eyes, but within the curtains, there was no light.
Thick curtains blocked all sources of light, making day and night blend into a chaotic blur.
He didn’t know how many days he had been lying there.
Since waking up that day, withdrawal symptoms had completely plagued him.
Liang Feng didn’t have clear and reliable memories; his mind held only fragmented, intermittent images.
Tears flowed, fear of light, insomnia-induced mutterings—these were the mildest symptoms.
In severe cases, it was a pain like a thousand arrows piercing the heart, a torment akin to being devoured by ants.
He might have gone mad, screaming and howling; he might have lost control of his bladder; he might have torn, bitten, and rolled about; he might have exhibited horrifying and detestable behavior, revealing all the ugliness within.
It was involuntary, to the extent that even the memories too shameful to be retained were erased.
However, every time he woke up, it was like this. He lay clean and comfortable on the couch, shrouded in soothing darkness, with the scent of calming incense wafting gently into his nostrils. And there was that hand gripping his arm.
Liang Feng tried to lift his wrist slightly.
He didn’t raise his arm, but this subtle movement still awakened the person beside the couch.
“Lord…” A hoarse voice sounded as if lacking vitality due to sleep deprivation and prolonged fatigue.
However, upon hearing that voice, Liang Feng strangely felt that some of the unease in his chest was alleviated. Because for countless days and nights, whenever he had some consciousness, this voice had accompanied him.
“Do you want some water? I’ll go call someone,” Yiyan was now fully awake, sitting up by the couch, and asked softly.
Liang Feng tried to speak several times before managing to squeeze out the word, “Congee…”
Yiyan’s eyes lit up immediately! Over these days, the Lord had almost stopped eating and drinking, and this was the first time he had asked for food. Yiyan immediately called out loudly, “Qing Mei, bring some congee!”
After shouting, Yiyan didn’t leave. He reached for a nearby water bowl and handed it to Liang Feng’s lips, saying, “Lord, have some water first to moisten your throat.”
There seemed to be something mixed in the water, but Liang Feng’s tongue was as numb as wood, and he couldn’t discern it at all. He took a few shallow sips and then stopped.
Yiyan didn’t insist further. After putting down the bowl, he picked up a cloth and carefully wiped away the traces of water from his lips.
This gesture was a bit too intimate. Liang Feng turned his head slightly, took a breath, and asked, “What day is it?”
Yiyan’s hand stiffened for a moment, then he spoke softly, “It’s been five days. Dr. Jiang said that as long as you get through the first few days, it’ll be alright.”
Liang Feng understood the reasoning behind it. The withdrawal period was a time for the body to adjust to the absence of addictive substances. Within ninety days, the metabolism would cleanse all impurities.
However, what was truly fatal wasn’t the physical aspect but the psychological one.
Once a person knows how much happiness those substances can bring, the psychological addiction takes root and becomes difficult to eradicate.
He couldn’t specify what addictive substances were in the Cold Food Powder, but what he was sure of was that his mindset wasn’t as clean as it had been during his first withdrawal.
At that moment, the curtains were drawn open. Liang Feng squinted slightly to adjust to the light inside the room.”
It was daytime, but he wasn’t sure of the exact time. Qing Mei was carefully holding a meal tray, kneeling by the couch, and said, “My lord, here’s the congee.”
A hand behind him supported him, gently helping him sit up.
Liang Feng took another breath, opened his mouth, and let Qing Mei feed him.
When he saw the not-so-thick congee, Liang Feng realized that he didn’t actually have an appetite.
The feeling of hunger seemed to have vanished. There was a heavy lump in his stomach, and even though he knew he should eat something, looking at the congee didn’t elicit any sensation.
However, Liang Feng still ate. Silently swallowing one mouthful after another.
Reason and the body seemed to be severed into two halves, alternating in their struggle.
However, this struggle only lasted a few minutes. Suddenly, Liang Feng hesitated and bent over, vomiting.
The splattering congee and stomach mucus gushed out together, splashing onto the clothing of the person beside him.
“My lord!” Qing Mei was so shocked that she dropped the bowl.
Yiyan, however, didn’t care about the stains. He quickly patted Liang Feng’s back to help him clear his throat of impurities.
Seeing that the other person had vomited everything, he didn’t say a word. He bent down and lifted Liang Feng, carrying him to the nearby low couch.
“Get some water! Let the lord rinse his mouth!” Yiyan ordered in a low voice.
Only then did the young girl react. She hurriedly got up, brought warm water, and served Liang Feng to drink.
On the side, the servants swiftly tidied up the couch and replaced the bedding.
Everything was done very smoothly. Liang Feng couldn’t help but wonder how many times he had lost control in recent days.
Once everything was tidy, a set of new clothes was placed nearby.
Liang Feng, however, didn’t make a move and kept his gaze fixed on the person supporting him at the side.
Yiyan remained silent for a moment, then stepped back.
Qing Mei quickly approached and helped Liang Feng change out of the soiled clothing. She used clean water to wash his hands and face.
In no time at all, the filth had disappeared once more.
With his gaze slightly lowered, Liang Feng looked a few steps away.
There, impurities were still congealed on Yiyan’s dark-colored clothing, a mixture of yellow and white, emitting a foul odor.
However, that gaze with substance seemed to be locked onto him and hadn’t left for a moment.
This won’t do. Drowsy and eyelids heavy, Liang Feng thought. The longer he stays, the harder it is for that person to let go. This will cause an uncontrollable mess. Perhaps it’s time for a battle, to push that person away, and in a couple of years, everything will return to normal. He will marry, and so will I. Let those youthful impulses dissipate. What can’t be given to him, why allow people to have illusions?
Just as he was thinking, Jiang Da rushed in quickly: “My lord, you’re awake? How do you feel?”
“Not too bad…” Liang Feng didn’t know how to describe his current state. What other answer could there be?
“My lord just had some congee and vomited it all up again,” Yiyan said in a deep voice.
“Want to have congee” Jiang Da let out a sigh, “Alright, next time, don’t drink it too thick and too fast. Feed it in small portions. First, let’s get some sugar water to soothe your stomach.”
With that said, he approached and carefully checked Liang Feng’s pulse and examined his tongue coating.
“The trembling isn’t as severe as before. My lord, you should go back to the bed, and I’ll continue to check other aspects.” Without waiting for Liang Feng’s resistance, Jiang Da helped him back to the clean bed.
With his hands, he pressed gently on Liang Feng’s chest and abdomen, while asking about sensations.
“I can endure it.” Liang Feng spoke honestly, providing detailed answers to Jiang Da’s questions.
After a series of examinations, he asked, “How is the situation?”
“It’s better than last time. With another year of care, you should recover. However, you must never take Cold Food Powder again!” Jiang Da solemnly warned.
However, just hearing that word from someone made Liang Feng feel an unbearable itch in his heart, and it pricked at his skin.
Clamping his teeth tightly, he suppressed the discomfort deep within and nodded slowly.
However, Jiang Da was still concerned. He watched as Liang Feng drank the sugar water and then said, “Taking medicine may be difficult now, so acupuncture might be more suitable. My lord, can you bear it?”
In reality, his body still involuntarily trembled slightly, but Liang Feng nodded.
Jiang Da was still concerned and turned to Yiyan, saying, “Boyuan, lend a hand. Hold down my lord’s calf while I administer the acupuncture.”
Just as Liang Feng was about to refuse, Yiyan had already removed his soiled robe, wearing only his inner garment as he knelt beside the bed.
A pair of warm, powerful hands gripped Liang Feng’s leg.
Perhaps due to the lingering effects of the medicine, Liang Feng’s calf twitched. Every inch of his skin felt the touch of that person’s hands. The rough calluses from archery and martial training, the sturdy joints, and the coarseness of the palms, all felt like restraints, binding him to the bed.
Having lost the best opportunity to refuse, Liang Feng closed his mouth and even shut his eyes. It was time to let this person leave as soon as possible!
However, Liang Feng didn’t notice that as soon as those hands were placed on his leg, the seemingly never-ending tremors gradually subsided, as if being smoothed away, disappearing.
The author has something to say:
Seeing discussions about addiction in the comments, I’d like to clarify the dangers of Cold Food Powder. In the Jin Dynasty, the renowned acupuncture and moxibustion expert, Huangfu Mi, wrote, “It violates proper limits, inflicting hardship and harm. In the past seven years, during the severe cold of winter, people who consumed it while naked in icy conditions experienced discomfort and fever. It caused symptoms resembling hot malaria or conditions similar to typhoid fever, leading to swelling, bloating, and severe limb pain.”
As mentioned earlier, there’s the case of Pei Xiu. After consuming Cold Food Powder, he burned up internally, required hundreds of stones doused in water, and still succumbed within a month.”
Even in the case of He Yan himself, “His spirit didn’t stay at home, his blood lost its luster, his vitality was drained, and he looked like a withered tree, referred to as a ghostly state.”
Those who died from Cold Food Powder numbered more than one could count since the Wei and Jin Dynasties, and there was hardly any cure. The formula itself has become taboo.
This was over a thousand years ago, without the refined addictive drugs we have today. Can you imagine what today’s illicit drugs would do?
The text is just a work of fiction. Please do not entertain any notion of trying drugs, as they can destroy lives and families. Addiction is difficult to overcome and can cause irreversible damage to both mental and physical health. Do not be tempted by any glorified or disguised narratives. Just stay away.
