Chapter Seven: Drugged

So hot… so unbearably hot… scorching hot!!!

Yan Ziyu felt as if she were trapped inside a blazing furnace, her entire body burning, almost being cooked alive.

“Water… Green Willow, I need water… water…” She called out for a long while, but Green Willow did not come. Parched beyond endurance, Yan Ziyu forced herself to open her eyes, got out of bed, and drank a cup of water.

Huh? Where is this? How did I end up here?

Staring at the lavish and spacious room before her, Yan Ziyu was momentarily stunned, her mind still foggy. She drank another cup of water to calm herself and tried to piece together what had happened and where she was.

In her mind, she vaguely remembered receiving an imperial edict and then meeting her so-called husband, Long Xiaoyan, the master of the Xiao Prince’s Mansion. After that… she felt dizzy and confused, returned to her room, and soon fell asleep. Before that, Consort Yu had apparently sent some incense over…

What happened afterward? How did she come to be here? She had absolutely no recollection.

Damn it, why is it so hot tonight? It’s suffocating…

Soon, the unbearable heat returned, and she kept drinking water until she finished an entire pot. Her clothes were disheveled, but the heat persisted. Finally, she sensed something was terribly wrong.

Why was she so feverish in the middle of the night? Moreover… this burning sensation seemed to originate from her lower abdomen. She had an ominous premonition.

Could it be that she was so “lucky” as to be drugged with aphrodisiacs?

The truth hit her like a thunderbolt. Gritting her teeth, she resolved to fight back.

Damn it, it really is an aphrodisiac! Otherwise, her body wouldn’t be this sensitive. If I find out who did this, I’ll strip them naked and toss them into a doghouse, feed the dogs aphrodisiacs, and make them put on a human-animal show!

Clenching her teeth, Yan Ziyu walked to the door and locked it behind her. The only thing she could do now was endure.

If she could just hold out until dawn, even if her reputation suffered, it would be better than falling prey to those scoundrels’ schemes.

She lay back down on the bed, biting her lip to suppress the spreading inferno within her. The pain in her lips and the metallic salty taste kept her alert, preventing her from losing control to the burning desire. Even so, her consciousness was gradually succumbing to darkness. She knew she was about to lose the fight.

Just as she was about to slip into oblivion, she felt herself fall into a broad, strong embrace. The man must have been an expert because a cool breeze swept across her cheek. After what felt like an eternity, she was suddenly immersed in icy spring water, and instantly her mind cleared, and her sanity returned.

“Hiss… who… are you?” So cold, so unbearably cold! The fire in Yan Ziyu’s heart was instantly replaced by piercing chill, her voice trembling with cold.

She looked around. An empty cave surrounded her, with nothing but the pool of water. The only clue to her situation was the broad back of the man before her, who had his face turned away, hiding his features.

He didn’t answer her. Instead, he began to undress.

Yan Ziyu shrank back instinctively. She realized she was wearing only a thin undergarment on her upper body, soaked by the water and clinging tightly—almost as if she weren’t wearing anything. Fear crept into her heart.

Though this body had borne children, her heart remained pure as snow. If someone dared to take advantage of her here, she would never accept it. If her first time wasn’t to be filled with romance, at least let it be under the moonlight, beautifully and properly.

Enough digressing. Back to the matter at hand!

The man turned around, revealing a strong, muscular chest. He wore a white jade mask, revealing only his eyes and thin lips. Step by step, he approached Yan Ziyu.

“What… what do you want? I warn you, don’t try anything funny. I’m formidable. I…” She tried to stand and intimidate him, but her legs were weak, floppy like noodles. She collapsed back into the pool and took a few sips of the spring water.

“Don’t move!” The masked man waved his hand and scooped her up. Holding her with one arm, he placed the other hand on her back, channeling warmth into her to prevent her from freezing.

“Uh… can you please let me go? It’s so cold…” She pleaded, hoping he would relent.

Damn, tonight was like a nightmare—one moment she was boiling alive, the next freezing to death! What kind of madness was this? Yan Ziyu felt like she was losing her mind.

“You’ve been poisoned with ‘He Yin San.’ If you don’t want to die, don’t move. This cold spring water suppresses the poison’s effects, allowing me to channel energy and detoxify you.” The man’s voice was gentle yet cold, as if nothing in this world could stir his emotions.

“He Yin San? What is that? An aphrodisiac? Who wants to harm me? What’s the cold spring for? And why are you helping me? Since I have nothing better to do, just tell me everything.”

Feeling the warmth spread through her body, Yan Ziyu was less cold and more clear-headed. She decided to ask all her questions at once. If she was going to die, she refused to be a fool.

“He Yin San is a powerful aphrodisiac. If not detoxified within twelve hours, or if you don’t unite with the opposite sex, your blood vessels will rupture, and you’ll die. The cold spring is the only antidote besides those two methods—you just need to soak for six hours to neutralize the poison. The reason I’m helping you is simple: I want to help you.” The man answered calmly. Despite their close proximity, his voice betrayed no hint of desire.

“Who wants to harm me? What about my son? Is he alright?” Her greatest worry was that whoever targeted her might hurt her precious Rui’er.

After a long silence with no reply, Yan Ziyu began to worry something had happened to them. Anxious, she turned her head to ask clearly, only to have her lips meet something soft and cool.

In an instant, both of them were stunned.

“Uh… you haven’t answered my questions yet…” Coming back to her senses, Yan Ziyu quickly turned her head away, cheeks flushed, whispering.

The next moment, she felt herself lifted into the air, then cradled in a cold embrace. A clear, magnetic voice whispered in her ear: “They’re safe. With me here, no one can harm him. Remember to protect yourself. The secret you carry may save your life temporarily, but it could also be your death sentence. Long Xiaotian is no saint… you must be cautious in all things…”

Relieved to hear Rui’er was unharmed, her tense heart finally eased. But the latter words made her frown again.

What did her son’s safety have to do with him? Why did he speak as if he were a protector?

The secret she carried… what was it? How could it both protect her and become her death warrant? Such contradiction baffled her.

She wanted to ask the mysterious masked man what he meant. Just as she lifted her head and words were forming on her lips, she was abruptly silenced…

“Mm… hmm…”

Before she could fully grasp what was happening, Yan Ziyu felt something soft press against her mouth, warm breath on her face. Then she realized—her first kiss was gone!

The next instant, darkness engulfed her, and she lost consciousness.

“Damn bastard, stealing my oxygen!” That was Yan Ziyu’s last thought before blacking out. Then, everything faded away.