Zhuang Dongqing became aware, but not much. His thoughts were sluggish. What was happening? What did it mean? Why was this suddenly brought up again? Hmm, it smells so good, I really like it. From a distance, he could smell the fragrance on Cen Yan, and when he got closer, the scent seemed to fade, but just because it was faint didn’t mean it was any less attractive. In fact, Zhuang Dongqing found it even harder to resist.

How to put it, it was like a net had fallen over him, trapping him from all sides, leaving him no way to struggle. Cen Yan held him in his arms, and he couldn’t help but press against the other’s skin. It felt like this was the only way to feel comfortable. Zhuang Dongqing felt torn, and what was worse was that he was aware that something was wrong, yet he couldn’t stop himself. His hand even slipped into Cen Yan’s collar.

Zhuang Dongqing let out a whimper of loss of control, apologizing while continuing to explore even more inappropriately. But the more he crossed the line, the more he couldn’t suppress his feelings of shame, constantly apologizing over and over again. “I’m sorry…” “My bad.” “I didn’t want to, ugh…”

Cen Yan tried to comfort him, even stopping him a few times, but it was all in vain. Under the influence of the toxin, Zhuang Dongqing’s mind was already hazy, and once the guilt set in, it felt like he was trapped in a vicious cycle of self-loathing, whipping himself deeper and deeper with moral shackles, unable to break free.

“Zhuang Dongqing!” Cen Yan suddenly raised his voice. Zhuang Dongqing was taken aback and looked up. In the moonlight outside the window, Cen Yan saw a pair of watery eyes. Just like that night. His heart softened, and Cen Yan called out again, “Qingqing.”

Zhuang Dongqing felt a moment of daze. It had been a long time since anyone had called him by his nickname since he came here. A strange yet familiar feeling arose, and Zhuang Dongqing suddenly felt a bit wronged; he hadn’t been himself for a long time. “Qingqing…”

It seemed effective. Cen Yan called out again, reaching out to touch Zhuang Dongqing’s cheek. If he couldn’t understand it indirectly, he had to say it directly. “No need to apologize, it’s not your fault.” “Besides,” “I came here myself.”

Under the covers, holding Zhuang Dongqing’s hand, he placed it on the tie of his inner garment, guiding Zhuang Dongqing to loosen the knot, making it easier for him to act on his own body, even to do as he pleased…

Quietly looking at Zhuang Dongqing, his amber eyes were gentle. “The poison in you needs to be removed. Just listen to me, we’ll take it slow…” Unable to hold back, Cen Yan swallowed hard, “Is that okay?”

So gentle, like coaxing, Zhuang Dongqing nodded dazedly. As the ties loosened, Cen Yan’s garment opened up, and Zhuang Dongqing’s hand pressed against it, unable to resist sliding. Cen Yan changed his breath, his exhalation warm, and seeing that Zhuang Dongqing had calmed down, he could no longer hold back, following his heart, and pressed a light kiss on his nose.

Zhuang Dongqing obediently closed his eyes. So obedient. Cen Yan’s hand, resting on the side of his face, couldn’t help but slide down, gripping his chin. Zhuang Dongqing opened his eyes, his gaze hazy.

With a slight pressure from his fingers, his lower lip parted slightly from his upper lip, revealing a hint of moisture. Cen Yan’s gaze deepened, “Open your mouth.” Zhuang Dongqing was stunned, not yet ready. Cen Yan then pushed open his teeth with his tongue.

His mind was once again in chaos, but this time it wasn’t a breakdown; instead, it was filled with sweetness. Zhuang Dongqing let out muffled sounds from his throat, and in a moment, he instinctively closed his eyes, following Cen Yan, actively chasing that slippery entanglement.

He liked it. The restlessness that couldn’t be vented seemed to have finally found an outlet. What followed was an even more intense release. When Cen Yan tried to pull away, Zhuang Dongqing even actively chased after him, gripping his shoulder, refusing to let him go.

The movement was too large, and one hand pressed against the wound, causing Cen Yan to furrow his brows. He didn’t stop Zhuang Dongqing, just supported his wrist to lessen the pressure on the wound. When Zhuang Dongqing’s chest was compressed to the limit and he had to separate to breathe, he realized that the sensation under his hand was wrong.

He touched it and finally sluggishly remembered what it was. Cen Yan was still injured. The moment this awareness hit him, it felt like he had been burned, and Zhuang Dongqing jerked his hand back. The movement was so quick that Cen Yan couldn’t hold on.

“I…” The flustered words barely started before they were interrupted by Cen Yan’s actions. Cen Yan pulled his hand back, placing it below his wound. In that moment, Zhuang Dongqing’s fingertips pressed against the wound, trembling with guilt.

He kissed back again, and at the moment of contact, Zhuang Dongqing was once again entranced. His face was already flushed from lack of oxygen. Cen Yan knew that this flush could spread all over his body. He had seen it.

But when he kissed back again, Zhuang Dongqing didn’t dare to apply force, his hand resting lightly on Cen Yan’s body. When he finally breathed in fresh air, Zhuang Dongqing was completely unable to think. His mind was like a kaleidoscope, filled with all sorts of lines and blurred colors. When Cen Yan got close, it was like colorful fireworks bursting, leaving him overwhelmed, only able to be wrapped in this brilliance.

The ties were pulled apart. Long fingers touched his body, and Zhuang Dongqing shivered. It was as if he had become a piece of slime in Cen Yan’s hands, rolled and shaped, at his mercy. “Have you done this yourself before?” Cen Yan asked him.

Warm breath brushed against his ear, and Zhuang Dongqing was confused, “What?” So Cen Yan pinched him a little harder. Zhuang Dongqing trembled. It was only then that he realized that all the ties had been undone.

Zhuang Dongqing tried to push Cen Yan’s hand away, but instead, it was caught by that long finger. Ugh. Bullying him. Just as he was about to complain, he was gently kissed, and Zhuang Dongqing instantly became muddled. …He liked it.

When Cen Yan kissed his nose, Zhuang Dongqing regretted it again, feeling extremely ashamed, “How can it be like this…” He wanted to stop, but he couldn’t. He and his hands were both in Cen Yan’s control.

Damn it, why was none of them obedient? “Continue, just like this…” After a pause, Cen Yan’s voice became low, “Or do you want to take the initiative…” “Or,” lowering his gaze, hiding the waves in his eyes, Cen Yan said, “Do you want to turn around…”

So indecent. Zhuang Dongqing shook his head vigorously. “No, the wound will burst open.” His words were broken and incoherent, his tone like a kitten in spring. Cen Yan said, “Then let’s continue.”

He pressed down heavily with his thumb, and Zhuang Dongqing bit his lip. It was too embarrassing, and he buried his head into Cen Yan’s shoulder, hiding. But that was just the beginning. After that, he couldn’t care less.

In the chaos, Cen Yan kissed him again, receiving a passionate response. It was so shameful that he cried, but the more shameful it was, the harder it was to stop. He liked it. He really liked it.

As it piled up to the point of explosion, Zhuang Dongqing felt numb all over. Cen Yan’s hand didn’t stop, slowly moving from head to toe, and Zhuang Dongqing trembled, unable to control himself. The air became salty.

The chaos seemed to leave with a rush, and Zhuang Dongqing’s mind went blank. Cen Yan grabbed something to wipe his hands and casually wiped Zhuang Dongqing as well. Zhuang Dongqing dazedly shivered along his spine. “Are you okay?” Cen Yan asked him.

Zhuang Dongqing didn’t know. He opened his mouth, unsure of what to say. Actually, he didn’t need to say anything; Cen Yan came to kiss him again. Zhuang Dongqing obediently closed his eyes, but this kiss was very light, just a touch, as if he only wanted to brush against him.

A finger rested on his forehead, and Zhuang Dongqing belatedly realized something and dodged, “It’s dirty.” Cen Yan laughed, “You’re still disgusted with yourself.” Zhuang Dongqing didn’t speak, feeling so ashamed he wanted to die.

“It should be fine now.” Cen Yan breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn’t so hot anymore, thankfully. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, but… the conditions here were really hard to praise, and Cen Yan didn’t like it.

Moreover, it wasn’t just that. A woman in this stage of pregnancy probably wouldn’t be okay, and whether Zhuang Dongqing could handle it was also a question that needed to be understood after returning to the capital. Furthermore, during their first time, Zhuang Dongqing had cried too hard, and at that time, he had everything; now, with nothing at hand, if he accidentally hurt someone, it wouldn’t be pretty.

In the end, it was probably his injuries. If they burst open because of this, he didn’t know if Zhuang Dongqing would still change his medicine for him the next day… All in all, it was all inappropriate.

Cen Yan got up, took the teapot from the room, went outside to wash his hands, and stood there for a while in the cold wind to calm himself down before returning to Zhuang Dongqing’s bed. “Hmm?” Zhuang Dongqing was confused, but his body still actively made room for him. In just a little while, Zhuang Dongqing’s eyes were already squinting.

After checking his forehead and confirming there was no problem, and that he wasn’t hot anymore, Cen Yan said, “Go to sleep.” Zhuang Dongqing mumbled a response.

Held by Cen Yan, he initially struggled a bit but couldn’t break free. As he fell into a drowsy sleep, he leaned closer to him, resting his head against his shoulder, and fell asleep soundly.

• When he woke up, the sky was bright. Liu Fu called out from outside, but it was Cen Yan who answered. After getting dressed, Cen Yan went to wash up in the outer room. Liu Fu wanted to go in but was stopped, “Let him sleep. There were some issues last night, and it took a while for him to settle down.”

“Oh, oh.” Liu Fu didn’t think much of it. Cen Yan looked at the sky, “The people from the Wang residence will be here soon, so let’s tidy up first.” Liu Fu complied.

Cen Yan was right; just as he finished breakfast, he heard the sound of hooves rushing in, and upon closer inspection, there was also the sound of cart wheels rolling. Two guards realized something and went out to check. Cen Yan remained still, drinking his porridge and eating the steaming buns.

Just as he finished the buns, he heard the guards outside excitedly calling “Captain Hao,” “Manager Liu,” and “Captain Xu.” It sounded like everyone had arrived.

In a moment, the courtyard door swung open wide. “Master!” “Master.” “Master!” The calls made Cen Yan frown.

Hao San stepped forward a few paces and knelt first, burying his head deeply, feeling extremely guilty, “The guards arrived late, please punish me, Master!” His emotional outburst only earned Cen Yan a calm reply, “Lower your voice.”

Cen Yan said, “Zhuang Dongqing is still sleeping. Everyone else, go outside. I’ll talk after I finish eating.” “Yes.” “Yes.” “Yes.”

The royal guards were always obedient. Once Cen Yan gave the order, the courtyard quickly quieted down, and the others retreated to the small courtyard outside. After finishing the last bite of porridge, putting down his chopsticks and bowl, Cen Yan turned around to see a row of people kneeling behind him.

It wasn’t surprising. Cen Yan asked, “Where is Lord Zhao?” Liu Qi replied, “He’s in the carriage. We brought medicine and clean clothes for you and Young Master Zhuang.”

Mentioning Zhuang Dongqing made Liu Qi nervous again, “By the way, Young Master Zhuang, he…” “He’s fine.” Liu Qi let out a sigh of relief.

It wasn’t surprising that they were so concerned. To expedite things, Cen Yan had only relayed the location of their position, and didn’t mention anything about the others’ well-being or circumstances.

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard Liu Fu calling from inside, and Zhuang Dongqing had woken up. Cen Yan glanced back, and Liu Fu understood, pushing the door in to serve him.

Cen Yan said, “Have Lord Zhao come over. Take a look at Zhuang Dongqing later.” A guard took the order and went out to find him.

Cen Yan poured himself a cup of water, and only then did his gaze turn to his three attendants who had followed him for many years. Hao San and Xu Si showed their emotions; one was red-faced with excitement and guilt, while the usually reserved Liu Qi had red eyes as well.

Cen Yan asked, “Has it been tough these days?” Hao San replied, “As long as we can find the Master and know he is safe, nothing else matters!”

“Tell me, what are the losses in horses and guards?” Hao San gritted his teeth, “The team of guards that followed the Master all fell victim to snake venom and died without treatment. The team I led, to protect me from ambush, only three of us, including me, managed to bring out two hundred warhorses. After this battle, when we counted, only one hundred and twelve horses were left. The two teams led by Xu Si had injuries but no deaths during the escort, and the team led by Liu Qi was the same.”

“I’m incompetent!” Hao San bowed his head heavily, his eyes red, his hands tightly clenched at his sides. Cen Yan understood this emotion. It was anger, and unwillingness.

Cen Yan asked, “Have the bodies been taken care of?” “All that could be found have been properly dealt with.” Cen Yan said, “Give them a proper burial, send a letter back to the fief, and treat their families well, according to the old customs.” “Understood.”

After that, everyone fell silent. After a while, Cen Yan spoke again, “What about the court? They didn’t say anything good about me, did they?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Hao San’s face filled with anger, and Liu Qi hurriedly said, “Let me report.” Cen Yan observed Hao San’s expression for a moment, then raised his hand to stop Liu Qi, “Hao San, continue.”

There wasn’t much to report; they were all well-trained soldiers, and the news was conveyed very accurately. In the first two days after Cen Yan disappeared, the people from the Dingxi Wangfu searched frantically but found nothing. There were still some praises for loyalty and patriotism, but as time passed and no bodies were found, and with life and death uncertain, other voices began to emerge in the court.

Just a few days ago, the Wangfu was targeted by a faction led by the Third Prince. They claimed that Cen Yan was faking his death and was actually colluding with the deposed Crown Prince, intending to rebel. The casualties of Hao San and Cen Yan’s two teams of guards were merely a smokescreen.

Hao San gritted his teeth in anger, “They said if the trap was really that powerful, and the snake venom was really that fierce, they should have found the Master’s body by now. Since there’s no body, there must be a trick behind it.”

“They also accused our Wangfu of abnormal casualties. Aside from the two teams of guards, the other sub-teams all returned intact, with no deaths, and all the injured were light injuries. They said the Master had long been in collusion with the deposed Crown Prince, and that the remnants of the deposed Crown Prince’s forces could retaliate so fiercely, there must be someone in the middle passing messages!”

And who that messenger was needed no further explanation. Hao San was furious, “I’ve never understood the twists and turns of the court, but I just can’t accept it.”

“The two teams of brothers who followed us are gone, and the Master was bitten by a snake, with life and death uncertain. Why should those officials’ baseless speculations erase the merits of the Wangfu? When the soldiers mutinied in the hunting grounds, none of them stepped forward to risk their lives. Instead, it’s us, the ones who escorted, who are blamed!”

“To turn black and white upside down, to confuse right and wrong…” “If I had known it would be like this, we…” “I’m just a fool, I can’t understand!”