Jiang Huaichu left Qionglin Courtyard but didn’t return home immediately. Instead, he took a stroll through the Imperial Garden.
Some eunuchs and palace maids in the palace were under Miluo’s command. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have known Xiao Yun’s whereabouts the last few times.
Just now, when a palace attendant came to refill his tea, they subtly signaled to him with their eyes—Xiao Yun hadn’t gone to the Qionglin Banquet but was in the Imperial Garden instead.
Jiang Huaichu knew roughly where, but it would take some time to get there.
He walked along the cobbled path, seemingly aimlessly.
A palace maid approached from the opposite direction. As they locked eyes briefly, she discreetly glanced behind him.
Jiang Huaichu gave her the faintest nod.
The palace maid respectfully saluted him before passing by.
His dark eyes turned cold.
So, Qi Wang’s men were indeed following him.
Jiang Huaichu smiled. Now it all depended on whether Qi Wang would take the bait.
He quickened his pace.
Most palace attendants had likely been sent to serve at the Qionglin Banquet, so as Jiang Huaichu walked for a while, he only encountered a few scattered servants.
The Qionglin Courtyard in the distance was brightly lit, but the Imperial Garden was pitch dark. There was no moon in the sky, and looking down, one couldn’t even see the path clearly. The lakes on either side appeared as inky black expanses, their rippling surfaces giving the illusion of turbulent waves.
The night air carried a chill. As Jiang Huaichu reached a bamboo grove, two shadowy figures suddenly lunged at him from behind.
Darkness swallowed him in an instant.
Xie Caiqing’s eyes flickered as he made a move to run, only to be restrained from behind.
Before he could even cry out, someone firmly covered his mouth.
The top scholar’s eyes widened in shock.
His assailants were clearly experienced, making no sound as they swiftly twisted his arms behind him and wound rough rope around them again and again.
Xie Caiqing feigned resistance, cooperating just enough.
Xiao Yun wasn’t far.
A man stepped leisurely out of the darkness.
The moment Xie Caiqing saw his face, he struggled violently.
Qi Wang chuckled, unhurriedly approaching him. “What’s wrong? Weren’t you so composed at the banquet just now? Flirting with everyone except me—I thought you’d already forgotten all about me in just three days. So, I came to reminisce with you. Doesn’t that sound nice?”
He reached out to touch Xie Caiqing’s face, but Xie Caiqing jerked his head away.
Qi Wang’s suspended hand had nowhere to land. His gaze turned cold for a moment, but he still smiled. “No need to play the virtuous one with me.”
Lowering his voice, he added, “Unless you want me to expose your little secret, you’d better behave.”
“Why glare at me? If you were so worried about this, you should’ve thought about it before.” Qi Wang sneered. “I know what you’re about to say. Yes, I’m afraid of your lover coming after me. That’s exactly why I don’t want to make a big scene. If this blows up, it won’t do either of us any good, right, Scholar?”
He teased, slowly undoing Xie Caiqing’s belt, deliberately drawing out the process tenfold.
Fear and despair spread through Xie Caiqing’s black, obsidian-like eyes, bringing Qi Wang immense pleasure.
With a smirk, he spoke slowly, “All I want is to have a taste of you. It’s not like I’m taking you in for life—I wouldn’t bring a plaything of unknown cleanliness into my household. Filthy.”
He patted Xie Caiqing’s face mockingly. “So why don’t you just let me have my fun for one night, and I’ll consider all our past grievances settled?”
Xie Caiqing clenched his lips shut and shook his head.
“No need to rush to refuse,” Qi Wang said with amusement, playing with his prey. “I promise not to leave a single mark on you. As long as you don’t speak of it and I don’t either, he’ll never know.”
“If you ever need my help in the future, maybe I’ll even lend a hand—if I’m in a good mood. What do you think, Scholar?”
He stared into Xie Caiqing’s eyes, but Xie Caiqing, full of revulsion, closed them and shook his head again—without the slightest sign of wavering.
Qi Wang had not expected him to refuse such an offer, which was beneficial to both of them. His temper flared instantly. “What are you pretending for? You’ve already been used by who knows how many people! What difference does one more make?”
Xie Caiqing remained silent.
Qi Wang’s fury struck an unyielding wall of resistance. After a moment of silence, his lips curled into a smirk. “You really don’t know what’s good for you. Do you think you can escape? Waiting for someone to rescue you? Don’t be ridiculous. Even if someone comes, no one will dare get involved.”
The scholar opened his eyes, which were dark as night.
“You want to die together with me? You’re too naïve. Soon, you won’t even have the strength to hate me—you’ll be clinging to me, begging, calling out for me.”
“This is your own doing.”
He reached into his robe and pulled out a small embroidered box. With a soft “snap,” he opened it.
Inside lay a bright red pill.
Upon seeing it, Xie Caiqing’s eyes widened in horror, and his body trembled violently.
Qi Wang grinned. “Do you know what this is? My alchemists spent years refining this formula. Just one pill will keep you in ecstasy all night long.”
Xie Caiqing’s struggles grew more frantic, the delicate skin of his wrists turning red and swollen from the coarse rope.
Seeing him finally panic, Qi Wang’s smile deepened. “Oh, I forgot to mention—this drug has no antidote. Even if the gods descend, if you don’t find a man, you’ll suffer until death.”
“I really do cherish you, Scholar. This little pill is worth a thousand gold taels, and I’m using it just for you. What can I say? You’re simply irresistible.”
“Serve this Wangye well, and perhaps I might show mercy. Otherwise… I still have two subordinates here. I can’t be selfish and keep all the pleasure to myself, can I?”
With every word he spoke, the despair in the scholar’s eyes deepened. His mouth was covered, and he let out muffled protests.
“Regretting it now? Too late!”
Qi Wang violently gripped his jaw, forcing his mouth open, and shoved the pill inside. He massaged his throat, forcing him to swallow.
As the pill slid down, the light in the scholar’s eyes faded like a phoenix with a broken neck.
Qi Wang felt an unparalleled thrill of sadistic pleasure.
Color slowly crept onto Xie Caiqing’s face, his gaze turning hazy, his body growing weak as if he could no longer stand.
Qi Wang hadn’t expected the drug to take effect so quickly—faster than ever before. Thinking that Xie Caiqing’s body must be especially sensitive, he saw the dazed, misty look in his eyes and felt an unbearable urge. He barked, “What are you waiting for? Let him go!”
His two subordinates, slow to react, immediately released him.
Just as Qi Wang eagerly reached out to pull the now irresistibly alluring scholar into his embrace, the seemingly intoxicated man suddenly gathered strength from nowhere, shoved him aside, and bolted forward.
Qi Wang stood in stunned silence for a few seconds before he snapped back to reality, roaring in rage, “Idiots! Chase him! Don’t let him escape!”
The two subordinates instantly gave chase, but before they could take more than a couple of steps, they caught sight of a group of Changling Guards approaching from the distance, lanterns in hand. They froze in shock and looked to Qi Wang for instructions.
Qi Wang’s face twisted as he recalled Xie Caiqing’s ties to Xie Zhe. His expression flickered between pale and dark before he finally, though unwillingly, motioned for his men to retreat into the shadows of the forest to observe the situation.
…..
The sound of footsteps behind him had disappeared.
The drug was rapidly spreading through Xie Caiqing’s system, yet his mind remained utterly clear.
His master was the infamous Miluo Poison Doctor, whom the world sought to kill. In his early years under his master’s tutelage, he had been subjected to venomous insects, forced to ingest poisons, suffering through their effects until he could no longer bear it—only to be given the antidote at the last moment.
What had begun as agony had gradually turned into indifference. Now, nearly all poisons in the world had little effect on him.
Of course, the toxins didn’t vanish entirely; rather, his body had adapted, slowing the spread and weakening their effects.
Qi Wang hadn’t lied—this aphrodisiac indeed had no antidote. But as long as he acted before the drug became uncontrollable, he could counteract it by administering poison to himself, using poison to fight poison, neutralizing its effects entirely.
From afar, Xie Caiqing spotted a tall man dressed in dark gold robes walking behind the Changling Guards. He bit his lip, wiped his burning cheeks with the back of his hand, and lowered his long lashes, suppressing the chaotic emotions threatening to surge.
The teachings of his imperial brother flooded his mind.
Be composed and dignified. Maintain propriety and uphold your reputation.
In the presence of others, you must never appear disheveled or improper.
Speak neither too fast nor too slow. Always remain composed. Never utter vulgar words.
Respect yourself. Take responsibility for your actions.
If you take a wife in the future, treat her with courtesy and respect. Never speak empty, flirtatious words. Never display affection in public.
Practice restraint. Desire breeds laziness, and laziness destroys men.
Never trust easily or act rashly. Always weigh your decisions carefully. Let things develop naturally; do not rush or offer yourself up too easily.
Never, never… so many “nevers.”
Always, always… so many “always.”
He had broken every single one.
The person before him was a complete stranger—more foreign to him than anyone else in his life.
Perhaps the drug was taking effect after all, for Jiang Huaichu’s face grew even redder. He raised a trembling hand to his eyes, as if trying to shield them from view.
It would have been better if the drug had made him lose consciousness—being awake like this only made everything feel more unbearable.
Through the gaps in his fingers, he saw the approaching figure. He took a deep breath.
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