Chapter 140: Qianghuo
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Liu Zhongming held the person tightly and ran wildly all the way.
The place where the carriage stopped was far from the villa, but seeing Qu Chenzhou in this state, if he continued to bump around in the carriage, it seemed like he would die soon.
Fang Wuyang followed closely behind him, his face pale with fear.
“Zhongming, Zhongming, believe me, I really didn’t do anything to him! His body is too weak, and he caught a cold from a little bit of cold air. I found a carriage for him and ran around looking for medicine for him. I didn’t expect him to turn out like this!”
Liu Zhongming turned his head sharply.
Fang Wuyang immediately exclaimed, “He touched me! I struggled desperately to preserve my innocence!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!” Liu Zhongming scolded angrily. “What medicine did you give him?”
“What medicine…” Fang Wuyang was stunned. “The medicine readily available at the roadside pharmacy. The doctor said that wind-cold is common in this weather, so he kindly prepared a lot of medicine. What else could it be?”
Liu Zhongming had already guessed what had happened roughly when he saw Qu Chenzhou earlier. Bai Shiyan had warned him before that Qu Chenzhou must not touch Qianghuo, so the medicine prepared by the mansion was double-checked.
But he never expected that Fang Wuyang would do something good but end up causing harm, and bring medicine from outside for Qu Chenzhou to take.
“Go back and don’t follow!” He drove away the confused Fang Wuyang and hurriedly ran to the bedroom in the villa, placing Qu Chenzhou gently on the bed.
With his eyes half-closed, Qu Chenzhou laid on the bed, his pupils losing focus. His limbs were weak and he trembled slightly, his face flushed with unrelieved pain and confusion.
He had never thought that something like this would happen and Bai Shiyan had never mentioned any antidote for Qianghuo. Now, he could only think of one solution.
Just as Liu Zhongming had brought in some water, he heard a thud behind him and saw someone falling out of the mosquito net.
Qu Chenzhou was lying prone on the ground, with one hand clawed like a chicken’s foot, tearing at his own clothes. However, his clothes were soaked with sweat and stuck to his body, making it difficult for him to tear them off. He rolled on the ground a few times, shouting loudly, but his words were incomprehensible.
As Liu Zhongming bent down to lift him up, Qu Chenzhou bit his shoulder and drew blood. Liu Zhongming told him to wait and then carried him to another room.
After covering him with a blanket, Liu Zhongming reached for a warm, damp towel to wipe Qu Chenzhou’s neck. However, as soon as the towel touched him, Qu Chenzhou bounced up as if he had been scalded, grabbed Liu Zhongming, and rubbed his cheek against his arm, his eyelashes fluttering.
Liu Zhongming was caught off guard and bent down, feeling Qu Chenzhou’s heavy breathing near his ear. He realized that this was not a problem that could be solved by wiping with warm water, so he fumbled for a handkerchief in the blanket.
Perhaps his hands were too cold, as Qu Chenzhou shivered and moved restlessly, like a thirsty person in the desert, licking his lips and holding Liu Zhongming’s wrist with both hands, as if refusing to let him go.
Liu Zhongming knew where Qu Chenzhou was sensitive to pain and itch, but now he was not as clear-headed as before. He was careful not to hurt him, afraid of aggravating his condition.
When they accidentally bumped, Qu Chenzhou became silent instead of making any moaning sounds despite his normally vocal nature. All the sounds were stuck in his throat, only his restrained breathing and uncontrollable tears at the corners of his eyes remained.
Liu Zhongming recognized his expression, and just by looking at his reaction he knew that the little fox had lost consciousness even though he instinctively suppressed his voice. In the past, even when he was singing a tune while soaking in the water to seduce him, the little fox was always rational and clear-headed.
This proud person never thought of surrendering everything to him for guidance and domination, even in their private space.
It was the first time that Liu Zhongming saw such a confused and bewildered look on Qu Chenzhou’s face.
Perhaps he had endured for a long time in the carriage, Qu Chenzhou curled up and trembled silently soon after. Liu Zhongming sat by the bed, and with one hand, he pulled the person out from under the blanket and held him in his arms. He lifted Qu Chenzhou’s chin and his warm tongue released all the sounds stuck in his throat.
He received a response of unprecedented passion, and for the first time, the little fox surrendered all the initiative to him.
In just a few breaths, the person in his arms struggled and clung to him like a soft vine. His kisses became even more delicate and tender.
After an unknown amount of time, Qu Chenzhou finally calmed down and leaned in his arms. He didn’t release his hands but instead tightened his grip on Liu Zhongming’s arm and spoke as if talking to himself, with a sobbing tone.
“Also…”
Liu Zhongming’s body froze, and he listened more intently.
“Also…”
Qu Chenzhou pinched his wrist tighter and his waist and back slightly arched, pleading with a sob, “Don’t go…”
Seeing tears rolling down Qu Chenzhou’s eyes, Liu Zhongming was already extremely uncomfortable. Apparently, the previous attempt had not worked.
The package was moved from the hidden compartment under the bed to the cabinet not far away. Liu Zhongming put the person down and only took a few steps away before hearing a muffled sound behind him.
Qu Chenzhou flipped over on his own and fell to the ground. He stared at the direction of the surrounding screen with teary eyes and struggled to reach out, desperately crawling forward as if trying to escape.
Panicked, he threw the package on the bed and then carried the struggling person back.
“No…”
Qu Chenzhou finally spoke in a hoarse voice, rolling on the bed in vain and reaching out with his hands, as if trying to crawl downwards.
“Where are you going?”
Liu Zhongming anxiously pulled the person back several times, but couldn’t stop the frantic crawling. He had to tie Qu Chenzhou’s hands to the head of the bed again.
Qu Chenzhou laid on the pillow, sobbing with his head up.
“Give me…”
“Don’t be in a hurry,” Liu Zhongming was confused and didn’t know what the little fox wanted to do. He couldn’t ask anything and could only hold onto Qu Chenzhou, kissing him repeatedly and urging him, “I’ll give it to you now.”
The warm touch of the Mianziling in his hand had become restless. He held onto Qu Chenzhou’s ankle and twisted the Mianziling with his fingertips.
Qu Chenzhou suddenly lowered his head, clutching the bed frame with all ten fingers. After a while, he suddenly burst into hysterical tears, not like someone lying on the bed, but more like a small trapped animal in a trap.
“Chenzhou! Chenzhou!”
Liu Zhongming called out urgently, with fine sweat on his forehead. He thought it wasn’t working and was about to take out the things, but noticed that Qu Chenzhou’s body moved.
“…give me…”
Liu Zhongming didn’t dare to delay. He quickly put the things in place, and then found a porcelain bottle from the package. He pulled out the stopper and the room was instantly filled with a strange sweet scent.
The medicine in the bottle was poured onto the hand, illuminated by the candlelight, reflecting a rosy hue.
Just now, it seemed like all his strength had been consumed. Qu Chenzhou felt as though all the bones in his body had been pulled out. He didn’t move at all as he was held in the other’s embrace, his heterochromatic eyes opening slightly and searching anxiously for him.
Liu Zhongming leaned forward and patiently traced his warm lips from his forehead, cheeks, earlobes, and nape, until finally kissing his ankle.
Little by little, with his patience and tenderness, he finally managed to calm Qu Chenzhou down. All that could be seen was the fine sweat on the back of the little fox’s neck and shoulders, which were trembling slightly.
“Chenzhou…”
He called out softly, recalling the last time he had fallen for the empress’s trick. Qu Chenzhou had teased him in the study, playing with him until he was itching all over and couldn’t hold back his desires, pressing him against the wall for some punishment.
Even though he had tried to maintain a bit of his clear-headedness, he was still toyed with by Qu Chenzhou and couldn’t help but say countless embarrassing things.
So much so that now, whenever Qu Chenzhou had some free time, he would lean against the window in the study with a smile, asking him, “What does the Shizi want to do to me? Say it again, okay?”
Liu Zhongming leaned down and kissed the birthmark next to his waist, then suddenly released his grip.
Qu Chenzhou trembled even more urgently, wanting to turn back and look for him, but didn’t even have the strength to lift his head.
“Move a little…”
Liu Zhongming smoothed his damp hair and inserted his fingers to comb it, gently lifting it up.
“Beg me,” he whispered in Qu Chenzhou’s ear. “Beg me, and I’ll give it to you.”
Qu Chenzhou lifted his face, but the candlelight stabbed his eyes shut and he trembled more and more violently. He bit his lower lip until it bled but refused to speak.
“Call my name, beg me…say you’re begging me.”
The Mianziling leaned forward another inch.
Qu Chenzhou’s porcelain-white skin was stained with large patches of red, as if drunk. Already hoarse, he suddenly arched his back and screamed, whether because of the Mianziling or for some other reason.
“Please…I beg you…Your Majesty! I beg you!”
Shaking his head frantically, his hair tangled in his mouth, he seemed to have lost all reason, screaming hoarsely.
Liu Zhongming felt as if he had been doused with ice water from head to toe. Suddenly, he exerted force and lifted Qu Chenzhou’s face higher.
“Call my name!”
Qu Chenzhou sobbed and screamed recklessly, “I beg you, Jingyan! Jingyan! Please!”
Liu Zhongming let go, watching Qu Chenzhou fall back onto the bed.
“Jing…” he murmured to himself, “Jingyan…”
Huai Wang, Mu Jingyan.
Qu Chenzhou continued to struggle fruitlessly, his legs bent and stretched, like a dying fish, or like he was trying to crawl and wriggle desperately.
Liu Zhongming’s initially burning gaze gradually cooled, and he slowly reached into his clothes, his voice soft and slow as he said, “Call my name.”
His hand suddenly tightened, and that name was called out again, with a painful wail, even clearer.
“Jingyan…”
Liu Zhongming’s throat tightened, and he was stunned for a moment. He untied the sweat towel tied to the head of the bed and held the person in his arms.
Something cold flowed from his eyes to his chin, and then dripped onto his neck, which was pressed against him.
“Good…” He wiped his eyes repeatedly, not knowing how many times he said “good.” He asked again hopefully, “Do you… remember… Liu Zhongming?”
Qu Chenzhou’s tremble suddenly stopped, and before he could react, he roared hysterically.
“Don’t mention him! Don’t mention him!”
Liu Zhongming hugged him tightly, and the two of them fell onto the bed together.
Qu Chenzhou seemed to be driven insane by those three words. He struggled with all his strength and didn’t know where he wanted to crawl to. Liu Zhongming could only press him down with his whole body weight.
Every moment seemed endless.
After an unknown amount of time, the bedroom finally became completely quiet.
Liu Zhongming turned him over and saw that Qu Chenzhou had fainted. He trembled uncontrollably, possibly from tears or sweat, and his long hair was wet and stuck to his face.
Liu Zhongming untied his hands and took out the mianziling. He wrapped him in a blanket and headed straight to the bathroom.
As expected, Qu Chenzhou had lost too much energy. He didn’t even react when he was put in the hot water, and he curled up motionlessly in Liu Zhongming’s arms. The redness on his body had faded, and he had returned to his familiar appearance.
They had seen each other completely, and there was nothing to hide. Liu Zhongming threw their clothes on the side, sat on a warm bench with Qu Chenzhou in his arms, and carefully washed away the dirt from their bodies. He even carefully washed Qu Chenzhou’s hair with scented soap.
Until everything was finished and there was nothing left to distract him, he tried several times to stand up and embrace someone, but he fell back weakly, staring blankly at the candlelight swirling in the mist.
After a while, he realized that tears were flowing down his face again.
His fingers ran through the delicate strands of hair, as he had done countless times before. But he couldn’t help but think that there was another person from even earlier.
He could ignore the fact that the Little Fox had once snuggled up to that person, and that he had been in love with someone else before. But what he couldn’t ignore was that at the height of his own feelings, Qu Chenzhou, the person he loved, was thinking of someone else.
“I don’t blame him,” he thought to himself.
“But I can’t forget him.”
Liu Zhongming desperately rubbed his cheek against something, but he couldn’t forget Qu Chenzhou’s words.
Even if Qu Chenzhou had said many sweet words to him, he knew that even if he could possess Little Fox’s body one day, he could never possess his heart alone.
“How could you be like this…”
Liu Zhongming sat blankly on the steps outside the bedroom, not knowing who to blame.
They had shared countless pieces of cake here, basked in the sun throughout the year, and watched the branches sprout new buds and become covered in white snow.
He used to think that as long as they were in this courtyard, together, they would never feel cold again.
But now, the Little Fox was sound asleep in the bedroom, and he had never felt so lonely before.
Actually, he should have known earlier that they could be together only because he forced Qu Chenzhou to agree. He also knew that there was someone else in Qu Chenzhou’s heart.
If it were someone else, he could still console himself that Qu Chenzhou is his now, no matter what.
If it were someone else, he could still reluctantly accept it and pretend that nothing had happened today.
But why does it have to be Huai Wang?
In that case, which of Qu Chenzhou’s previous words were true and which were false?
Was it really Huai Wang who killed his brother?
Did Qu Chenzhou lie to him when he said he only spoke the truth? What is his motive?
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