Chapter 3: Antidote

The expected heavy object did not come crashing down upon her. Jiang Jin stood at the doorway, looking at the scattered porcelain shards strewn across the floor.

Though they were scattered everywhere, it was clear they had all been deliberately avoided hitting anyone.

Biting her lip, she followed a “clean” path into the room.

When she reached the screen, she stopped.

Standing behind the screen, she spoke, “Your Highness, I am Jiang Jin, daughter of the Bingbu Shangshu. At the Zhangshi’s request, I have come to administer the antidote for you!”

Jiang Jin’s voice was not loud, but it was enough to reach Xie Chengzhi’s ears.

She clenched her palms tightly, waiting for Xie Chengzhi’s response.

Yet after waiting for a long time, there was no reply.

Jiang Jin frowned slightly, feeling somewhat puzzled.

But she dared not act recklessly. She was on his territory now and had to be cautious.

After waiting a moment longer, Jiang Jin mustered her courage and repeated what she had said earlier.

This time, she received a response rather quickly.

However, compared to the earlier silence, what now reached her ears was the sound of steady, unhurried footsteps.

Accompanied by… faint panting.

Before Jiang Jin could react, a large hand firmly grasped her arm and pulled her into the inner chamber.

Seeing Ning Wang before her, his robes half-open and his face flushed crimson, Jiang Jin’s thoughts momentarily scattered.

The next moment, Xie Chengzhi’s hand moved around to her back.

Just as Jiang Jin regained her senses, she felt herself being lifted into the air.

Panicked, she quickly wrapped her arms around Xie Chengzhi’s neck. Her fingertips accidentally brushed against his skin, and it felt as if she had touched a flame—so scorching hot.

He was burning up!

How deep must the grudge be between the poisoner and Xie Chengzhi, to torment him with such a vicious method!

Jiang Jin’s brow furrowed unconsciously. Soon after, she felt herself being set down.

She sank into the soft brocade, her hands still tightly wrapped around Xie Chengzhi’s neck.

Following her pull, Xie Chengzhi lowered his head.

When their eyes met, Jiang Jin saw his gaze clearly.

Hazy, profound, and unfathomable.

And at that moment, the temperature of his skin rose once again.

Just touching him made Jiang Jin feel unbearably hot.

She hurriedly let go, but the next moment, her hands were raised high above her head by a pair of large hands.

Immediately after, a shadow enveloped her completely.

The gauze curtains fell, trapping the two of them within that confined space.

Scorching breath brushed against her neck, sending shivers across her skin.

“Your Highness,” Jiang Jin struggled to focus and called out softly.

She waited a few breaths, but aside from his ragged breathing, there was no other response.

At that moment, Jiang Jin could confirm—he had been driven out of his senses by the poison, completely unaware of what he was doing.

But perhaps that was for the best. If he were still conscious… it might not have worked!

Jiang Jin thought to herself.

“Ah!” Before she could fully immerse herself in her thoughts, a sudden sharp pain at her collarbone jolted her awake.

Jiang Jin glared up at Xie Chengzhi, inwardly grumbling: Is this man part dog?!

Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but reality no longer allowed her to concentrate.

A breeze blew in from somewhere, causing the candle flame to flicker and the gauze curtains to sway and ripple.

——————

When Jiang Jin awoke, her head was spinning.

She wanted to raise her hand to rub her temples but found she could not lift her arms at all.

She turned her head to look and saw that she was tightly encircled by Xie Chengzhi.

Her hands were also firmly clasped in his.

His grip was incredibly strong, and she could not struggle forcefully.

Jiang Jin thought it through clearly—this matter would be best brought up to Xie Chengzhi by the Zhangshi and the others.

If the first person Xie Chengzhi saw upon waking was her, she feared he might mistake her for a spy and harm her.

After all, he had been poisoned, and it was uncertain how much rationality remained.

She couldn’t guarantee how much he still remembered, so she had to handle this with caution.

Jiang Jin moved, trying to slowly withdraw her hand.

But Xie Chengzhi held on too tightly. A light sweat broke out on her temples, yet she only managed to free one hand.

Breathing lightly, Jiang Jin casually wiped the sweat from her forehead and then began to pry open Xie Chengzhi’s fingers.

Her nails gently touched the bones of his fingers, loosening them one by one.

Once all five fingers were released, she hurriedly pulled her other hand free.

But…

Jiang Jin looked at the arm draped over her, feeling a wave of frustration.

Yet, as if the heavens had sensed her dilemma, Xie Chengzhi suddenly turned over, lying flat on the brocade bedding, his brows and eyes relaxed.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Jin climbed out of bed, but as soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs went weak.

She quickly steadied herself by holding onto the edge of the bed, calming her nerves.

Before leaving, Jiang Jin instinctively glanced back at the bed.

Xie Chengzhi’s features were exceptionally handsome, with clean, sharp bone structure and well-defined angles.

She had seen him from a distance when he was awake before—his gaze was arrogant and sharp, often cold and devoid of emotion when he looked at others.

Now, lying on the bed with his eyes closed, he didn’t seem as icy. Instead… he appeared somewhat gentle and refined.

Jiang Jin shook her head slightly—these were mere illusions.

What kind of person Ning Wang was, everyone knew.

No one remained tense while asleep.

Only the version of him when awake was real!

Not daring to delay any longer, she prepared to leave.

But as she reached the screen, Jiang Jin seemed to remember something.

She turned back and rummaged through Xie Chengzhi’s discarded clothes.

Yet, after searching for a long time, she couldn’t find what she was looking for.

Lowering her gaze, she hesitated for a moment before approaching the bed.

Moving quietly, she carefully searched the bedding.

Finally, she found it near Xie Chengzhi’s waist.

She slowly reached out, and as soon as her fingers touched the jade pendant, a strange feeling surged in her heart.

Clutching her chest, Jiang Jin took several deep breaths. Only when the strange sensation gradually faded did she continue.

It took great effort to untie the jade pendant. Just as she thought she had succeeded, as soon as she began to withdraw her right hand, a large hand clamped around her wrist.

Jiang Jin’s eyes widened in shock, thinking she had been caught.

But after a moment, Xie Chengzhi made no further movements.

Cautiously shifting her gaze, Jiang Jin looked at his face and realized… he was still asleep!

Instantly relieved, she gently pried open his fingers and, as his hand was about to fall, quickly caught it.

She carefully placed his hand down and stole another glance at him.

Only after confirming he was truly still asleep did she fully relax.

Tucking the jade pendant into her robe, she quietly slipped out of the room.

Once outside, she saw Furong already waiting at the door.

Jiang Jin’s pupils trembled slightly, as if surprised that Furong had been brought here.

She opened her mouth to say something, but Furong shook her head and said, “Miss, let me attend to you for a bath and freshening up first.”

With that, she took Jiang Jin and left the courtyard.

While bathing, Furong looked at the marks on Jiang Jin’s body, and tears uncontrollably fell.

Jiang Jin held her hand and comforted her, saying, “Furong, your young lady, I am—”