Chapter 40: Administering Medicine

The night was deep, and Hutao and the night nurse were sound asleep in the adjacent room, emitting gentle snores. Yu Lingxi forgot to put on her shoes, and her slender, white socks made no sound as she stepped on the wooden corridor.

The potent calming soup couldn’t suppress the toxicity. She felt dizzy and restless, as if walking on clouds, stumbling in all directions, relying on instinct to grope forward.

The path that usually took a short while to traverse seemed endless now.

Her legs gave way, and Yu Lingxi, holding onto the moon gate, fell to the ground. The darkness surged from all directions like a tidal wave, dragging her down in a whirlpool.

She loathed this feeling, but her body was out of control.

The orderly footsteps of the night patrol guards could be heard in the distance, and the lanterns of the patrol were faintly visible, approaching this way.

Yu Lingxi had no strength to get up; her pure white nightgown was particularly conspicuous in the night.

She crushed her palms, even contemplating in desperation: anyone would do, as long as they could help her escape from this misery…

In her blurred and distorted vision, a pair of extremely familiar leather boots appeared. Yu Lingxi was stunned, following the dark hem upwards, she saw a very familiar face.

The moonlight was faint, casting a light frost on him.

Meeting her scattered gaze, Ning Yin made a soft “tsk” sound, squatting down for a while. “Miss is indulging in recklessness again?”

His deep voice sounded displeased.

The patrolling guards had reached the corner of the corridor, as if they might come around with lanterns and witness her embarrassing poison-induced state at any moment.

Yu Lingxi had no strength to stand up, and her pure white nightgown was especially eye-catching in the moonlight. 

Yu Lingxi bit her lip, using her last bit of strength to grab onto Ning Yin’s clothes. Ning Yin didn’t move until the footsteps of the patrol guards reached the corner of the wall, the dark hem was wrinkled by her grasp, and then he took action.

He stretched his arm to embrace Yu Lingxi, hiding in the cramped space behind the shallow nook against the wall.

With shadows enveloping them, Ning Yin’s dry fragrance was undoubtedly a fatal temptation, reminding her of the addiction from the previous two times. Uncontrollably, she made a soft “wu” sound, very soft, and was immediately covered and pressed into his arms.

Ning Yin’s low voice sounded from above her head, accompanied by the vibration of his chest. “Be quiet.”

Cloth against cloth, Yu Lingxi felt like she was burning, biting down on her lower lip.

Almost simultaneously, a guard carrying a lantern came down to the moon gate, and the moonlit stone path appeared white.

“Weird, I clearly heard some noise just now,” said a voice just a few feet away.

“Maybe it’s that cat,” another person said.

The guard stood for a moment and then walked away.

Yu Lingxi’s body strained to the extreme, immediately losing strength, and was promptly caught by Ning Yin.

A gentle grip on her slender waist, boneless. Ning Yin’s arm tightened a bit, looking down at her eyes, he said softly, “The sleeping quarters are not very safe; would it inconvenience Miss to come to my place?”

Yu Lingxi was burning with confusion, breathing rapidly in small gasps; she could only nod in agreement to whatever he said.

A large raven-colored cloak enveloped her, covering Yu Lingxi entirely.

Then, with a light lift, she was lifted up by powerful arms. The warm palms pressed against her legs, and she instinctively curled up into Ning Yin’s embrace.

Once inside the house, Ning Yin tiptoed to close the door.

The sound of the bolt made Yu Lingxi shudder.

“I’m used to sleeping on a hard bed. Would Miss mind making do with it?” he said, moving steadily, placing the trembling young girl on the only bed. Then he got up and brought some water, wiping her dirty hands that had touched the wall all the way.

The cool damp cotton cloth started wiping from her delicate fingertips, then the palm, and slowly extended up the exceptionally hot forearm.

After wiping, a brief coolness swept over the area, followed by a more intense burning sensation.

“Wei… Qi…”

The muffled voice was urgent, devoid of any strength.

“En.”

Ning Yin responded indifferently, unhurried.

In front of Yu Lingxi, everything appeared surreal and exuberant, making it hard to distinguish between dream and reality. Guided by instinct, she grabbed Ning Yin’s hand. His hand had long and elegant knuckles, with attractive veins subtly protruding, seemingly born to control everything.

She squeezed her fingers into the gaps between his, interlocking her fingers with his, revealing a hazy and enchanting smile like a blooming peach blossom.

Ning Yin’s hand-wiping slowed a bit, raising an eyebrow slightly.

He knew that during the third poisoning, hallucinations would be vivid, dreamlike, leading the person’s consciousness to complete annihilation, plunging them into the depths of bliss.

“Last time, the miss said my kissing skills were lacking, so I read a few books.” As he spoke, Ning Yin tossed the cotton cloth into the copper basin, his dark eyes swirling with a playful smile. “Does the miss want to check my homework?”

He knew Yu Lingxi couldn’t hold on much longer but still sat arrogantly, waiting for her to take the initiative. Sure enough, Yu Lingxi, feeling uncomfortable, leaned in a bit, propping herself on his shoulder and getting closer. Familiarly, she kissed his nose, then descended, planting feather-light kisses on his cold, thin lips.

Ning Yin, with a bent elbow, casually placed his damp hand on the headrest of the bed, letting it dry. His slightly raised eyes squinted.

Only when she, dissatisfied with her distress, slightly raised her head, did she obediently open her lips.

When the lips stung, Yu Lingxi frowned. Before she could make a sound, Ning Yin had covered her mouth and pressed her back into his stomach.

“Miss has thin skin, speak more softly.” His voice was hoarse and deep, and he gently wiped away the faint redness on her lips with his finger, like a fresh blush.

The familiar action made Yu Lingxi tremble all over, as if abruptly pulled away from a beautiful and moist dream.

“With such thin skin, why climb…” 

It seemed like she heard a familiar scoff in her ears. The dim candlelight scattered into spots, turning into flower-patterned lights on the ground. Her chest rose and fell slightly, retreating a bit, and her hazy gaze blinked without closing, fixed on Ning Yin.

Ning Yin was quite dissatisfied with her distraction. His hand, which had been casually placed by his side, finally moved. He raised it, grabbed the back of her head, and pressed it sideways.

Yu Lingxi still had wide-open eyes, her eyelashes fluttering.

On Ning Yin’s robe, she saw large patches of splattered flowers, black-red in color, dripping wet down.

Ning Yin’s deathly pale face overlapped with the boy in front of her. Yu Lingxi clenched the bedding, and her scattered pupils began to tremble violently.

Sensing her anomaly, Ning Yin paused slightly.

He, with dark, swirling eyes, looked at the trembling Yu Lingxi, his deep voice hoarse. “Miss wants to court death, still want to endure?”

“Sorry…”

Yu Lingxi felt nauseous, but she couldn’t control herself from leaning in. Her eyes were full of fear, yet still, as if enchanted, she pressed her trembling lips onto Ning Yin’s pale ones.

Ning Yin lowered his gaze, watching her trembling pupils without moving. He knew that the third dose of the poison was the most potent, inducing vivid hallucinations that would trap the person deeper. However, most people would see beautiful things, unlike Yu Lingxi…

“What did Miss see, hmm?” Ning Yin’s clothes were loose as he raised a finger, gently holding Yu Lingxi’s chin, preventing her from moving and forcing her to look at his face.

Tears welled up at the corners of Yu Lingxi’s eyes, leaving behind a vivid and pitiful wet red. She repeatedly murmured the word “sorry.”

Ning Yin’s eyes were dark, asking, “Don’t want to?”

Blood oozed from between Yu Lingxi’s teeth. Trembling, she reached up to his neck, as if trying to grab the last piece of driftwood or fearing that this driftwood would be dragged into the abyss.

At first, Ning Yin thought it was Yu Lingxi’s stubbornness acting up again, but he quickly realized it was not. In the previous two instances, Yu Lingxi’s eyes showed stubborn resistance, but this time, all that remained in her eyes was fear and pain.

“I didn’t want… to harm you…”

Ning Yin leaned down, hearing this unclear sentence. He was silent for a moment before suddenly chuckling. What kind of words were these? This dirty body, even he didn’t mind stabbing it a few more times. What did she have to be afraid of?

“It hurts so much…” Yu Lingxi cried as she snuggled up, her neck even turning red, emanating warmth.

Ning Yin hesitated, slowly raising his hand, and tentatively, as a form of comfort, he stroked her smooth hair. But it couldn’t alleviate her pain.

Continuing like this, even if the detoxification was successful, the pain would surpass the pleasure.

After a long silence, breaths intertwined.

Ning Yin opened the drawer of the bedside cabinet, took out the white jade bottle given by Zhaji, and said, “Open your mouth.” His voice was hoarse and indifferent.

Yu Lingxi couldn’t hear his words anymore, crying on one side while seeking comfort on his body.

Ning Yin let out a low hum.

With a sound, suppressing the uneasy pain, Ning Yin pushed away her biting mouth from his neck, pinched her cheek, and fed the pill into her mouth.

An indescribable bitterness exploded on her tongue.

Yu Lingxi, ignoring the discomfort in her body, threw herself to the edge of the bed. 

“Don’t vomit,” Ning Yin warned, holding her round and slender shoulders and pressing her back onto the bed. “If you don’t want to die, swallow it.”

Yu Lingxi struggled disobediently, and Ning Yin, with a darkening gaze, decisively restrained her restless wrists. He bent down to seal her lips with his, using his tongue to push the pill she was about to spit out back into her mouth.

Yu Lingxi whimpered a few times, kicking her legs hard. However, under the absolute suppression of the young man, her struggles were like an ant shaking a tree, ineffective.

Gradually, the “whimpers” of resistance disappeared, leaving only the sound of faint sobbing.

Ning Yin carefully finished administering the medicine, then opened his ink-colored eyes, slowly withdrawing from her lips.

“Bitter.” Yu Lingxi pursed her mouth, her eyes red from crying.

Ning Yin licked his slightly reddened lips and chuckled softly, “Where’s the bitterness?”

Clearly, it was very sweet.

As the moonlight shifted to the west, the shadows of trees outside the window swayed gently. The candle, which hadn’t been trimmed, gradually dimmed.

Yu Lingxi’s breathing was hot, and after a silent moment, regaining some strength, she snuggled back into Ning Yin’s embrace, rubbing gently.

The antidote for the extreme pleasure fragrance had been lost, and this medicine was formulated by Zhaji based on the fragrance’s recipe. The time was too rushed, so the effect was not as immediate, but it still eliminated the poison, sparing her from the excruciating pain that could have cost her life.

Originally, he made second-hand preparations because he feared that his lack of experience might lead to mistakes. After all, he had some rare feelings for Yu Lingxi at the moment and didn’t want her to suffer from a lingering illness or lose her life.

Unexpectedly, she cried so bitterly, saying she didn’t want to harm him. Every move she made seemed to pierce his heart…

Ning Yin rarely made a losing deal and was not happy about it. Playing with her hair absentmindedly, glancing at the head leaning on his chest, he remained unmoved and said, “Miss, don’t take advantage of the situation.”

After taking his medicine, she still expected him to handle things afterward. How could he expect her to take medication and then just leave everything else for her to handle?

Yu Lingxi entertained the idea for a while, and seeing that he ignored her, she raised her eyes in a daze.

With drunken redness at the corners of her eyes, fragile and beautiful, her arm, with flesh and bone in perfect proportion, seemed as if sculpted from snow and silk, outlining a slender waist. Ning Yin’s hand, playing with her hair, slowed down, hesitating between knocking her out and seeking interest…

Finally, he lowered his gaze, bit her tender fingertips with anger, grinding them delicately with his canine teeth.

The candle on the table burned to the end, and the wax tears accumulated heavily on the candlestick.

Ning Yin’s lips also gained a hint of crimson. Sitting at the edge of the bed, half of his handsome face hidden in the dim light, he leisurely wiped off the water stains on her skirt.

After the poison subsided, Yu Lingxi was extremely exhausted and sleepy. She opened her eyes drowsily, glanced at the man sitting in a robe by the bedside, and in her confused thoughts, thinking she was still in a dream, she subconsciously blurted out, “Prince…”

Her voice was too soft, and Ning Yin didn’t pay much attention. He casually asked, “What’s the name?”

Yu Lingxi’s curled eyelashes slowly closed, her rapid breathing gradually calming down.

After a while, she mumbled incoherently, “Ning Yin.”

Ning Yin’s hand, which was wiping, suddenly paused, and he slowly raised his eyes.

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