dognovel Chapter 121 Let me know how much pain you're in
Chapter 121 Let me know how much pain you're in
That night, the Empress Dowager sent many precious tonics.
She also wrote a letter, instructing Xiao Hengzhi to recuperate and, once he was well, to accompany her to Zhuoyue Manor to visit the Buddha.
After sending the reply, Xiao Hengzhi took a bath and changed into his nightgown before going to the backyard.
I happened to see the servants bringing hot water into the room.
He told the servants to leave, and when he entered the room, he saw steam rising from behind the screen. Jiang Mian was sitting in a wooden tub, her nose and below her nose submerged in water.
Even through the wooden tub, he could feel the warmth inside the room. He stretched out his finger to test the water temperature, and it was scalding hot.
"Why is the water so hot?"
Jiang Wan sat up slightly and said, "I don't know why, but I feel cold all day..."
Xiao Hengzhi noticed that her shoulders were already red from the heat, so he brought her a bath shawl.
"Stop soaking, get up quickly."
Jiang Mian sat still, hugging her knees in the wooden tub.
Xiao Hengzhi knew this was a reaction to the effects of the Spring Bitterness Powder.
On the fifteenth of each month, the Spring Bitter Powder will cause people to feel cold and afraid of the cold. Then, there will be excruciating pain that will arouse desire. Finally, when indulging, one will have hallucinations and see the beloved.
However, if no antidote is found when in pain, one will be tormented to death by the rupture of meridians.
Fortunately, Jiang Wan's antidote was him.
Xiao Hengzhi frowned, and before she could respond, he scooped her out of the water and wrapped her in a bath towel.
"Are you trying to boil yourself if you soak any longer?"
Jiang Man trembled all over after leaving the hot water, feeling as if she had entered an ice cellar, and even her teeth chattered when she spoke.
"Your Highness...I...I should...see a doctor..."
"Hmm, if it's still like this tomorrow, then I'll go see."
Jiang Mian wanted to say something, but she could only feel the cold air drilling into her lungs, and she couldn't utter a single word.
She huddled under the covers, wrapping herself up tightly, and even opening her eyes felt like freezing.
Xiao Hengzhi took off his clothes and lay down next to her, pulling her into his arms without saying a word.
Jiang Wan didn't have the strength to push him away; on the contrary, she inexplicably liked the warmth of his body.
The night was as dark as ink, and only silence remained in the room.
Jiang Mian huddled under the covers, still shivering from the cold, and instinctively huddled even closer to the blankets.
Xiao Hengzhi noticed her movement, looked down at her, and asked in a low, gentle voice, "Are you still cold?"
Jiang Wan nodded slightly and murmured, "Cold..."
Her voice trembled slightly, and even her tone sounded helpless.
Xiao Hengzhi pulled her closer, his palm gently stroking her back.
Actually, he wasn't much better off either.
The heat rising in his chest felt like it was slowly creeping up from his bone marrow, burning him to the point where he felt like he was about to collapse.
After a while, Jiang Wan suddenly felt the chill in her chest gradually subside, replaced by a pain.
She gave a soft hum, frowning and biting her lower lip tightly.
"what happened?"
"pain......"
She unconsciously grabbed Xiao Hengzhi's clothes.
"...It hurts so much..."
Am I sick...?
She reached out and touched his cheek.
“No…” Xiao Hengzhi called her softly, his voice slightly hoarse with suppressed emotion.
This is not an illness, but a prison he designed himself.
But he still felt sorry for her.
He gently brushed his fingers across her cheek, as if speaking to himself: "It will be better tomorrow."
Jiang Wan shook her head groggily, her whole body aching so much she couldn't speak, like a fish out of water, desperately trying to grab onto something.
Xiao Hengzhi lowered his head, his forehead touching hers, his voice hoarse: "With me here, you'll be fine."
Jiang Mian didn't speak, but instinctively pressed herself closer, wrapping her arms around his waist as if grasping at the last straw.
As the delicate, persistent kisses fell upon her, she felt a mixture of cold and pain, and even forgot to breathe.
In this life, Jiang Mian has never tasted anything.
He kissed her forcefully, but was afraid of hurting her by being too reckless.
But in fact, he had never seen Jiang Mian at her age when she was most emotional.
So when he saw that patch of untouched, snow-white skin, he let out a low, hoarse sigh.
It's both infatuation and cherishing.
He was a little reluctant to give up.
Although Jiang Mian in her previous life had already been completely possessed by him, in this life, she is still a blank slate.
Xiao Hengzhi was torn between reason and desire at this moment. On one hand, he wanted to kiss and invade her without restraint, while on the other hand, he inexplicably felt afraid.
Finally, as if afraid of disturbing her, he kissed her tenderly.
But Jiang Mian was already somewhat immersed in it, and she gripped his clothes tightly, craving more touch.
For a moment, Xiao Hengzhi almost forgot that this was his trap.
If Jiang Mian were conscious, would she still act this way?
He really wanted to know who Jiang Man would see in her hallucinations.
Is it Ning Zhi?
Or him?
"Jiang Mian..." he murmured softly, his voice trembling slightly with restraint, "Look at me..."
Jiang Mian was in excruciating pain all over her body, so she closed her eyes slightly.
"Open your eyes and look at me..."
"Remember what I look like, and don't think of anyone else..."
"Look at me..."
He forced her to look at him, as if that would stop her from thinking about other people.
Jiang Mian trembled slightly and stiffly wrapped her arms around the neck of the person in front of her, as if inviting him, yet tears were streaming down her face.
Xiao Hengzhi gently kissed the corner of her eye, his voice so tender it was almost unlike his usual self.
"Don't be afraid, don't cry..."
Seeing her tearful face, he knew that the Spring Bitter Powder had tormented her severely.
If she doesn't get detoxified soon, she won't be able to hold on.
But even when he moves slowly, he still struggles a bit when faced with a blank sheet of paper.
Jiang Mian kept her brows furrowed, it was unclear whether it was because of the Spring Bitter Powder or because of him.
Xiao Hengzhi tore off the scab that had finally formed on his back, and fresh blood oozed out again.
It seemed that by doing this, he could feel the same pain as Jiang Wan.
The stinging pain from the reopened wound made him gasp for air.
Are you feeling better...?
He stretched out his arm and whispered in my ear, "If it hurts, bite me, let me know how much pain you're in..."
Soon, Jiang Wan gradually found a sense of belonging amidst her helpless struggle.
The illusory feeling brought about by the Spring Bitter Powder made her almost unable to control herself.
All the tenderness and madness intertwined, trapping the two firmly in each other's world.
Jiang Mian looked up at him, and the scene in her misty eyes gradually became distorted.
She parted her lips slightly and placed her hands on his cheeks.
She didn't know who she saw, but it made her burst into tears.
Looking into her empty eyes, Xiao Hengzhi knew she was lost in a hallucination.
Who did you see...?
"...Tell me...who...did you see?"
"say......"
His muscles were tense, and there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.
He kept forcing her to answer, as if he were coercing her.
In both his past and present lives, the only person he ever truly loved and suffered for was Jiang Mian.
But did Jiang Wan truly never have him in her heart?
He was eager to know the answer, but he was also afraid that she would say a different name...