Yan Zheng furrowed his brows, his voice as cold as ice in the depths of winter: "Do you really enjoy putting yourself in danger so much?"
When he heard that Empress Pei was hosting a polo match and that the lecherous Prince Bao had tagged along, he knew trouble was brewing.
By the time his informant returned with news that the Chu sisters had dazzled at the event—especially the eldest, Chu Ruoyan, whose skills left everyone in awe—his heart nearly leapt out of his chest!
He rode nonstop from the capital, yet still arrived too late. Thankfully, the old lecher hadn’t succeeded, but the thought of her using herself as bait made his anger simmer uncontrollably.
"Speak! If I hadn’t come today, how badly did you plan to hurt yourself?"
Chu Ruoyan blinked in confusion.
Why was he so furious?
"I didn’t plan to—" The moment she opened her mouth, she realized her voice sounded off.
Soft, delicate, and laced with an unintentionally seductive allure.
Chu Ruoyan covered her mouth, her eyes widening in alarm.
Yan Zheng also noticed her odd state and pressed a hand to her forehead. "Why are you burning up like this?"
The cool touch of his palm against her feverish skin drew a satisfied sigh from her.
His expression darkened.
Under the moonlight, her cheeks were flushed crimson, her eyes shimmering like spring water, glazed with desire.
His voice dropped low. "You’ve been drugged?"
Chu Ruoyan shook her head weakly. "It must be Prince Bao..."
She had caught a whiff of a sickly-sweet fragrance on the rooftop—no doubt the old lecher’s doing!
Yan Zheng gritted his teeth and barked, "Meng Yang! Fetch the carriage! And bring her nanny!"
Within moments, the carriage and Nanny Zhou arrived.
The moment Nanny Zhou saw her condition, she gasped in horror. "Heavens, what kind of poison has the young mistress taken?"
Even with her years of experience in the inner chambers, she couldn’t identify it!
Yan Zheng ordered coldly for her to be carried into the carriage, but the moment he tried to let go, Chu Ruoyan clutched his sleeve. "Don’t leave!"
Her entire body was scorching, and only the coolness of his presence offered any relief.
His lips pressed into a thin line. "Fine. I won’t leave."
He shot Meng Yang a glance, and the latter quickly helped his master into the carriage as well.
Nanny Zhou hesitated, biting back her words. After all, they had once been husband and wife. If the poison couldn’t be cured... well, perhaps it was best left to him...
The carriage raced through the night.
Chu Ruoyan felt like she was boiling alive, clawing at her clothes in desperation. Yan Zheng tried to restrain her hands, but she only struggled harder.
By accident, her fingers brushed against his lower abdomen. His entire body stiffened. "A-Yan, stop moving!"
She whimpered like a kitten, tilting her head up pitifully. "But I’m so hot..."
Her breath was sweet against his skin, and the disheveled collar of her robe revealed a glimpse of snow-white flesh, now tinged pink from the drug’s effects. Yan Zheng felt his blood surge, his famed self-control crumbling.
He inhaled sharply and turned his face away. "Just hold on a little longer—"
Before he could finish, her arms wound around his neck, her lips—red as blood—seeking his in a daze. "Then help me... please..."
His mind blanked. All thoughts of propriety and patience vanished as he captured those tempting lips.
Though both were inexperienced, their kiss was a clash of fire and ice, merging seamlessly.
Encouraged by the drug’s frenzy, Chu Ruoyan boldly slipped a hand beneath his robes, only for Yan Zheng to seize her wrist.
His eyes burned darkly, his voice rough with restraint. "A-Yan, I’m a man."
Her mind was too far gone to comprehend, and she squirmed against him with another needy whimper.
Yan Zheng tightened his grip on her, his gaze turbulent with conflict. Finally, he forced out through gritted teeth, "No. You’re not in your right mind—you’d regret this later. Just hold on... we’re almost there!"
The carriage hurtled forward, covering what should have been half a day’s journey in just an hour and a half.
At the city gates, Meng Yang flashed the badge of the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Knowing they were investigating a critical case, the guards didn’t dare stop them.
Meng Yang asked, "Young Master, shall we head to the Duke of Chu's Mansion?"
Yan Zheng glanced down at the disheveled woman in his arms. If they showed up like this, his future father-in-law would skin him alive.
"To the Hundred Knowledge Pavilion!" he ordered.
——
Tianyi Tavern.
Young Master Lang, roused from sleep in the dead of night, rubbed his bleary eyes. "This had better be urgent."
The moment he spotted the figure in Yan Zheng’s arms, his drowsiness vanished. "What happened to her?"
"She’s been poisoned. I need to borrow your place," Yan Zheng said, striding toward the stairs.
Young Master Lang grabbed his shoulder. "You’re not needed here. Send for Elder Qin!"
Within the time it took for an incense stick to burn, the yawning old physician was brought to the pavilion.
At the sight of Chu Ruoyan on the bed, he let out a scandalized cry and rounded on Yan Zheng. "Tsk, you youngsters play rough! How dare you give her ‘Trembling Beauty’?"
"Trembling Beauty?" Yan Zheng frowned.
Elder Qin rolled his eyes. "Aphrodisiac, love potion—call it what you will. But this drug only affects women, and its effects are vicious. If she doesn’t find release within half a day, she’ll bleed from every orifice. Even if saved, some never bear children again."
Crack.
The teacup in Yan Zheng’s hand shattered.
Young Master Lang’s eyes narrowed dangerously. "Cut the chatter. Can you cure her or not?"
"Of course I can! There’s no poison in this world I can’t handle—except your mother’s." Stroking his beard, he studied the two men with amused curiosity. "Hah, both of you are so worked up over her. Which one’s her sweetheart, eh?"
Before Young Master Lang could retort, Yan Zheng cut in coldly, "She is the Third Young Madam of the Yan family."
Young Master Lang smirked. "Former Third Young Madam of the Yan family."
"She is still my wife!" Yan Zheng shot him a frosty glare. "As I recall, the Pavilion Master barely knows her."
Young Master Lang opened his mouth to snipe back, but Elder Qin slammed the table. "Enough! If you want to bicker, take it outside. Both of you—out!"
One was the Marquis of Peace, a high-ranking imperial official; the other, the leader of the influential Hundred Knowledge Pavilion. Yet neither dared disobey the old man, shuffling out like scolded children.
Outside, Meng Yang and the portly innkeeper hurried over, but Young Master Lang suddenly asked, "Who did this?"
When Yan Zheng remained silent, he scoffed. "Ah, I forgot—the Marquis of Peace is too crippled to even remember how to kill, isn’t he?"
Yan Zheng finally met his gaze, his tone deceptively light. "It was Prince Bao. What will the Pavilion Master do about it?"
"That old lecher, Prince Bao?" Young Master Lang’s face twisted in disgust. "Killing him isn’t impossible, but it’ll take some maneuvering around the palace."
Yan Zheng arched a brow. "You have people planted in the imperial court too?"
Young Master Lang stiffened, then laughed in irritation. "You were testing me?"
"Merely deepening our alliance through mutual understanding," Yan Zheng replied smoothly.
Young Master Lang was torn between fury and amusement at the man’s shamelessness. "So, about Prince Bao—shall I handle it?"
At this, Yan Zheng’s expression turned grave, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "No need. My woman—I’ll protect her myself."
