Chapter 25
◎See his unreserved surrender and sacrifice◎
After discovering the weapons in the secret room two days ago, Xie Yutang wrote two letters and attached a personal jade pendant as a token, instructing Su Lu to deliver them to Prefect Song Zhen.
Xie Yutang deliberately stirred up trouble, knowing that Wei Xianxi and the others would step up their preparations. She needed to time it perfectly so that the weapons would be transferred and the perpetrators could be caught red-handed. If Song Zhenneng could successfully persuade Zhuang Hongfei, reinforcements would arrive in less than two days.
This method is almost foolproof, except for one thing: she has to use herself as bait and risk her life alone. If anything goes wrong, it is not impossible for her to be beheaded.
Xie Yutang was preoccupied with his own thoughts, but he didn't show it on his face. He even had the mood to play with the cat with Su Lu in the courtyard.
When the servants saw that she was awake, they soon brought her breakfast.
Xie Yutang had many rules and didn't like being disturbed while eating. The servants had long been instructed by Wei Xianxi to indulge the princess as much as possible, except for confining her to her quarters.
After the servants had properly arranged the food, they withdrew.
Given Su Lu's thoughtfulness, he would have already poured the tea, set out the dishes, and even arranged the plates according to Xie Yutang's preferences. But today... Xie Yutang turned his head and saw the boy's gaze sweep over the plates and dishes on the table. After a moment, he picked up his chopsticks and took out a slice of lotus root.
Wei Xianxi brought out his best utensils; the pair of white jade chopsticks were held in Su Lu's fingers, making his jade-like fingers appear even more prominent. But his eyes were lowered, and his tone was as cold as frost:
"The food was spiked."
Xie Yutang shifted her gaze from between his fingers to the lotus root slice, paused, and asked, "What medicine?"
Su Lu did not answer, but brought the lotus root slice to her lips and took a small bite.
Xie Yutang's eyes flickered slightly, but he did not stop it.
Having spent these days together, she had come to understand this young Prince Muqing somewhat. He would never do anything without certainty. Knowing that something was poisonous, he still dared to test it on himself, which meant that he had already kept all the consequences under control.
"It's a muscle-relaxing powder."
Just as she expected.
Xie Yutang's gaze swept over the chain on the boy's thin wrist, and he scoffed, "With this thing, you still don't feel at ease?"
They would be more wary of her every day she didn't sign the documents.
Wei Xianxi was confident that she could administer the medicine without fear of being discovered. Even if she was found out, it wouldn't matter. She wouldn't take it, and even if she didn't eat or drink anything for several days, she would still be weak. It was just a matter of whether she was hungry or not.
Having figured this out, Xie Yutang simply sat down at the table and tugged at Su Lu's sleeve, saying, "Since the poison won't kill anyone, let's fill our stomachs first."
Despite the fact that she had been drugged, Princess Ning'an's status meant that no one dared to neglect her. The food served was of the highest standard, with excellent color, aroma, and taste.
Xie Yutang picked up a dish and heard the boy sitting quietly beside her say, "Actually... it's not entirely without a solution."
Xie Yutang turned his head to look and saw the young man lightly rub the edge of the teacup with his fingertips. "I can force out some of this medicine."
This should have been a good thing, but Xie Yutang did not show any obvious joy on her face. Her gaze was quietly fixed on Su Lu's face. She did not ask him how much "some" he meant. "Is there any difficulty?"
She was so clever that Su Lu paused for a moment, feeling a little awkward, before finally speaking, "This kind of technique requires two people to work together and use their internal energy to forcefully open up the blocked meridians. During the process, it may be... unbearably hot."
Xie Yutang was momentarily stunned.
He phrased it tactfully, but she still understood.
When martial arts practitioners practice their skills, the environment varies depending on the nature of the technique. Some techniques can make one feel as cold as the depths of winter, requiring a warm and dry environment to balance the temperature. Other techniques can make one feel unbearably hot, requiring external help to cool down, or even... loosening one's clothes.
It wouldn't be a problem if it were just one person, but this method requires two people to work together.
This muscle-softening powder is too potent. I'm afraid the fever will be quite severe. If I don't remove my clothes and relieve the heat in time, the heat and dryness will accumulate in my internal organs. In mild cases, it will harm my body; in severe cases, it may even endanger my life.
Xie Yutang had considered many possibilities that would put Su Lu in a difficult position, but she never expected it to be because of this.
She certainly wouldn't be so stubborn as to break the rules of propriety between men and women at this time, and she has never cared about such things.
"Can."
Seeing the slightly bewildered look on his face, Xie Yutang nodded decisively, "The most urgent task is to cure this drug and restore our strength. Nothing else matters."
She seemed to be comforting him, or perhaps subtly suggesting, "Don't overthink it."
Su Lu lowered his eyes and twirled his fingertips under his sleeve.
She was the person he cherished most in his heart. He was willing to hold her high, even if it meant humbling himself on a bridge, covered in mud, so that she could sit high in the hall, untouched by wind and snow.
So even though Xie Yutang had already agreed and told him "it's not important" and "don't overthink it," Su Lu remained silent for a moment and said softly, "I can have someone lower the temperature of the hot spring pool so that I can practice my skills in the pool and cool down with the water."
His gaze fell on her face, as if tracing it, but he quickly looked away, restraining himself. "That should be better."
That's one solution.
With cold water available for cooling, the fact that the two could wear their undergarments was the best way to maintain their dignity.
After finishing lunch and resting for about half an hour, Xie Yutang called the guards at the door and asked them to go to Cui Hu to get the key to the shackles. Cui Hu was very satisfied with the cooperation of the two men when he saw that most of the bowls and plates that had been brought back were empty. He did not make things difficult for them and quickly sent someone to bring the key over.
Xie Yutang grabbed Su Lu's wrist and removed the shackles from him. A red mark appeared on his porcelain-white skin, making him look so delicate that one would only want to ravage him. Xie Yutang laughed and said, "Our young master Su is probably not a porcelain doll."
It turns red with just a light touch.
Her gaze fell behind the screen, where a square pool of water stood. "Who goes first, you or me?"
The servants who had been attending to her earlier all gave her a knowing look when she emphasized that the water temperature should be lowered. They did as she was told without asking any questions. Xie Yutang, on the other hand, who had spent a lot of time thinking of an excuse, stood there for a while, touched her nose, and thought to herself that the excuse of "romance" was really useful.
Su Lu paused for a moment: "I'll go first."
Xie Yutang seemed to be thinking of something, the words he was about to say rolled around on his lips but he suppressed them, and he nodded very generously: "Go."
In this kind of thing, those who go first naturally benefit.
The person who enters the pool first is not only concealed by the water, but can also openly watch the other person undress and enter the pool until they are only wearing their undergarments. During the process, there may be glimpses of the scenery, and everywhere is a beautiful sight.
Su Lu bowed slightly to her, then turned and walked into the inner room. His dark hair was still tied up with a simple hairpin, loosely hanging over his moonlit outer robe, his back view as elegant and noble as snow.
Xie Yutang clicked his tongue inwardly.
The extent of her vigilance shows she's really been keeping everyone entertained lately.
Since her rebirth, she has carried the weight of a blood feud on her shoulders, walking a solitary path, surrounded by intense and heavy things, and she needs something to vent her frustrations.
Teasing such a pure young man, watching the pristine and cold snow gradually turn into impure colors, watching him surrender and sacrifice without reservation, watching him not resist—that was what made her most addicted.
It seems that the burdens on my shoulders and in my heart are no longer so unbearable.
Xie Yutang untied the belt of his outer robe and coldly watched as the ornate overcoat with its gold-embroidered patterns fell to the ground.
She knew she was despicable.
Even when you're in hell, you should drag others down with you.
It wasn't until the sound of flowing water came from the inner room behind the screen that Xie Yutang, who had already removed her hair and was only wearing her inner clothes, slowly stepped over the screen. However, her gaze paused heavily when she saw the figure standing still in the water, and then she stopped all her movements.
A white silk ribbon was tied over his eyes, covering his dark, jade-colored pupils.
Her pale white inner garment was loosely tied around her body, and her ink-black hair fell into the water, making her look like a demon imprisoned in the water.
So... that's why he agreed to go into the pool first.
Although I know this person is always gentle and self-restrained, the kind of gentleman who is the most virtuous, some manners can only be truly appreciated in the details.
Hearing the noise, he turned his head slightly in her direction.
A ribbon covered half of his face, revealing his high nose bridge and smooth jawline.
Xie Yutang slowly stepped into the pool, gradually closing the distance between them through the water. Only when they got closer did they notice that his undergarment had spread upwards where it met the water, and the already thin fabric clung to his skin, almost transparent.
He tilted his head slightly, as if judging her position by the sound of the water, but his question was flat and monotone: "...What is Master looking at?"
Xie Yutang raised an eyebrow: "How did you know I was looking at you?"
He chuckled softly, his chin slightly tucked in. "Let's just say... it was my guess."
It's too obvious.
From the moment she saw him, her gaze was glued to him and never left him.
His eyebrows, the bridge of his nose, his lips, his collarbone, his Adam's apple, all ran down his water-soaked undergarment, so unrestrained they seemed almost tangible, so hot that he could trace each one.
"Shall we begin?" he asked softly.
Xie Yutang hummed in agreement.
The water rippled, and the boy slowly lifted his hand out of the water, pulling it inward so as not to splash a single drop of water on her.
The hands, held at a distance, stretched out like leaves, and rested quietly in front of her.
With long, slender fingers and clean, deep lines on his palm, Xie Yutang remembered reading in a book that people with such palm lines are determined, have no other distractions, and are destined to be extraordinary.
She paused for a moment, then slowly placed her hands on top.
His temperature was even lower, as if he were bathed in the gentle warmth of snow. Xie Yutang's gaze gradually moved from the red mark around his right wrist to his face covered by a silk ribbon.
Su Lu was currently enduring excruciating pain, as if his bones were being scraped and his tendons were being pulled out.
Although the muscle-softening powder is potent, it is not without its countermeasures.
What he needed to do was to infuse Xie Yutang with his inner energy, allowing her to use this power to break through some of the sluggish meridians in her body, and then send the inner energy back to help him expand his meridians.
Repeating this process several times will expel some of the toxins from the muscle-softening powder.
However, this method requires him to forcibly open some of his meridians before he can mobilize his internal energy, and even for him, the process is not easy.
Xie Yutang quietly looked at the person in front of him. His eyes were covered, which weakened his usual self-controlled calmness. A feeling of desire pressed up, revealing a silent temptation. His face was almost expressionless except that it was a little paler.
The amount of medicine Wei Xianxi administered was not small. She had already secretly checked and found that her Qi Sea and Dantian were completely sealed, and she could not use any of her internal energy. Now, the two people who had been treated with the medicine were exchanging Qi with each other, and each time they could only slightly open up the meridians and expel a small portion of the medicine's effects.
But it's better than nothing.
They are now in a dangerous situation, every step they take is like walking on a tightrope, and every bit of force they have increases their chances of self-preservation.
Faster than she expected, a cool breath came from the palm that was pressed against hers.
Xie Yutang immediately closed her eyes, cleared her mind of all distractions, and silently recited the mantra that Su Lu had just taught her.
The internal energy entered very gently.
Little by little, from the palm to the wrist to the forearm, it flowed quietly all the way, carrying a slight coolness that belonged only to that person.
She guided the internal energy according to the incantation, letting it surge against her sealed meridians.
This feeling is similar to being pricked by a needle in the softest part of your heart; each impact brings a sharp pain that travels along your meridians to every part of your body.
Xie Yutang finally understood what he meant by needing to cool down, because the impact brought not only pain, but also dryness. The needles felt as if they had been roasted over a fire, and the burning sensation emanated from deep within her body, imprinting itself into every meridian. She felt as if her whole body had become a blazing furnace, burning her with unbearable heat. Only by burying herself in an icy mountain and snowy sea could she find some relief.
The slight chill emanating from his breath, carrying a gentle, snowy scent, became a lifeline.
She had never been so thirsty, wanting more, just a little more, even just a little bit more.
But that won't work.
If she was in so much pain even with his internal energy help, then he had to forcefully open his meridians on his own without any leverage. Needless to say, the pain he must have felt was so intense that scraping bones and pulling tendons would be the least of his worries.
Xie Yutang tensed her jaw, struggling against the instinct to desperately absorb the snow, focusing solely on breaking through her sluggish meridians. Yet, the refreshing and cool snow kept surging in, the clean mountain snow gently enveloping her, relieving the scorching heat that was driving her crazy.
Xie Yutang opened his eyes in surprise. The young man opposite him seemed to sense something, and curled his lips into a reassuring smile. His face was even paler than before, and his originally pink lips were almost bloodless. Xie Yutang wanted to tell him that he didn't need to do this, but he was worried that he would disturb his breathing if he spoke rashly, so he could only close his eyes again and silently speed up his own progress.
When it came time to pay back the money, she wanted to do it quickly so he would suffer less.
But it seemed as if the other party was deliberately going against her. Whenever Xie Yutang tried to speed things up, she would feel as if something was blocking her way. No matter how she pushed, she could only push it in a little bit. After several futile attempts, she had no choice but to give up.
Because she accelerated her progress, she became the one who had to endure the devastating pain.
He wouldn't let her feel pain.
Therefore, Su Lu ultimately suffered the vast majority of the pain, while Xie Yutang felt much better than expected.
By the end, both of them were covered in sweat.
Xie Yutang sent the last bit of internal energy back, withdrew his palm, and went to check on his condition.
After seeing it clearly, there was a pause.
Su Lu's robes had come undone at some point.
The inner garment, which had been neatly tied, was now wide open at the neckline, with the left side of the garment even slipping down and hanging loosely on the forearm, revealing a smooth and delicate shoulder. A few strands of wet hair clung to it, making one want to roughly ravage it at first glance.
The boy seemed to notice her gaze; his long, dark eyelashes trembled, he took a breath, and pulled his clothes together.
Xie Yutang watched without changing his expression. His fingers, which were still trembling slightly, were gripping his inner robe. His voice was low and hoarse: "...Master, please go back first. I'll be fine in a bit."
Xie Yutang didn't speak. After a moment, he stood up from the water. The water rippled on his body as he stood up, and he shuddered again.
I can't tell if it's pain or something else.
He's too sensitive right now; he needs to calm down a bit.
Xie Yutang took a step. He had just circulated his internal energy and worked up a sweat. The water in the pool hadn't been heated much to begin with, and now that it had cooled down completely, the cold seeped into his skin through his open pores. If he continued to soak like this, the cold would definitely penetrate to his bones.
Su Lu waited for a while, but after the person in front of him took a step, there was no further movement. Just as he was about to speak, he saw a hand steadily being extended in his line of sight. The hand was smooth and slender, with a small section of well-trimmed nails painted with red nail polish showing through the fingertips.
His breathing stopped, and he heard Xie Yutang's voice, which was rather indifferent, with only a slight rise at the end: "If I don't pull you, do you have the strength to walk out?"
[Author's Note]
My darlings, this story will be posted on Wednesday, with no updates on Tuesday. Updates will resume at 23:10 on Wednesday. [Let me see!]
I saw that a few of you quietly bought the previously read chapters with inverted VIP access. You guys are such little angels! [heart][heart][heart]
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