Offered As A Lucky Bride To The Mad Princess To Ward Off Misfortune - Chapter 53

53: She Actually Took Advantage While Drunk…

Yu Nanqing felt terrible, her muddled consciousness trapping her in a haze she couldn’t escape. Her body burned, and she vaguely sensed something was wrong—this wasn’t just drunkenness. The restless, unbearable heat coursing through her veins made her tug at her collar instinctively.

As her collar loosened, another hand swiftly grabbed it.

Fragments of voices, sometimes near, sometimes far, reached her ears intermittently.

The manor physician was busy grinding herbs in the room. When Xiao Qiling burst through the door in a hurry, the physician nearly thought it was a life-or-death emergency.

Then she saw Yu Nanqing in Xiao Qiling’s arms. After checking her pulse, the physician’s experienced face relaxed slightly, though her expression soon turned peculiar.

Xiao Qiling’s sharp gaze locked onto the physician. “What’s wrong?”

The physician frowned. Yu Nanqing’s body was reacting to the clash of several potent drugs, but her pulse remained relatively stable.

However…

Logically, this kind of drug didn’t require a physician’s intervention. A night of passion would suffice to resolve it. Yet Xiao Qiling had gone out of her way to bring her here.

Recalling the recent tension between the two, and seeing Xiao Qiling’s furrowed brow, the physician had a sudden realization.

Could it be that, despite being married for so long, they hadn’t consummated their relationship?

That would complicate things.

The dose in Yu Nanqing’s system was light. If the same drug had been administered to Xiao Qiling, a single sword dance would have burned it off.

So, should she say it could be resolved or not? If she said it could, would she have to explain how to their inexperienced Highness?

The physician’s fingers twitched. Her gaze flicked to the pale, glowing skin revealed by Yu Nanqing’s loosened collar, and she gave an awkward smile.

Xiao Qiling caught the physician’s suspicious flush and narrowed her eyes dangerously. “What are you looking at?”

“Nothing at all,” the physician replied, sensing the dangerous aura radiating from Xiao Qiling. Did she think the physician hadn’t seen enough while administering acupuncture? She wasn’t some lecher—bare skin was just a map of acupuncture points to her.

She was still unmarried, for heaven’s sake. Was she really expected to teach them?

At that moment, Yu Nanqing writhed uncomfortably, letting out a soft whimper. The physician instinctively stepped back and suggested, “Your Highness, take the Princess Consort back and soak her in a cold bath for half an hour. That should resolve it.”

Xiao Qiling’s frown didn’t ease. “Can her body handle half an hour in a cold bath?”

“No, it can’t,” the physician admitted, clearing her throat before continuing delicately. “So, Your Highness, you’ll need to assist.”

The implication was clear. Xiao Qiling understood but still asked, “Will the drug harm her body?”

“We won’t know until the effects wear off. Her pulse is manageable for now,” the physician said, glancing at Yu Nanqing’s flushed cheeks before urging, “If Your Highness doesn’t take her back soon, it might become unmanageable.”

Xiao Qiling gave a curt “Mm,” said no more, and vanished with Yu Nanqing in her arms.

The physician watched Xiao Qiling’s retreating figure, rubbing her fingers thoughtfully. She stood there for a moment before pulling out a medical book to flip through.

In Lanshi Garden, all the hidden guards outside the bedroom had been dismissed. Moonlight spilled across the courtyard, casting a serene glow.

Inside, the candlelight flickered. A sudden collision sent the candle rolling to the floor. Xiao Qiling stomped out the wick and hurriedly steadied Yu Nanqing, who could barely stand.

Yu Nanqing, unaware of what was happening and unable to find relief, grew increasingly agitated. When Xiao Qiling held her again, her emotions reached a breaking point. Her face was flushed, her breathing rapid. The short walk from the door to the screen felt torturous, her misty eyes gazing hazily at Xiao Qiling.

As her cheek brushed against Xiao Qiling’s neck, she felt its coolness and instinctively pressed closer, seeking relief.

Provoked by Yu Nanqing’s unconscious teasing, Xiao Qiling’s breathing grew heavy, though she clung to her rationality. She couldn’t let this happen on the floor. Gripping the back of Yu Nanqing’s neck, she pulled her away, the candlelight illuminating the turbulent emotions in her eyes.

Unaware of Xiao Qiling’s intentions, Yu Nanqing chased after her, pressing her lips clumsily against the corner of Xiao Qiling’s mouth.

Then, as if guided by instinct, she licked Xiao Qiling’s lips, tasting them as if savoring a delicacy.

Sober, Yu Nanqing wouldn’t know how to kiss. Now, with her consciousness scattered, she acted purely on instinct, seeking relief from the unbearable heat within her.

After a while, realizing Xiao Qiling’s coolness had faded, Yu Nanqing—drunk and drugged, her temperament growing petulant—pushed Xiao Qiling away, intent on finding someone else cooler.

Sensing her intent to flee, Xiao Qiling finally acted. She grabbed the back of Yu Nanqing’s head, pulling her close, and lifted her by the waist, carrying her effortlessly.

The bed curtains fluttered. A hair crown was tossed out, rolling across the floor, unnoticed.

Xiao Qiling’s long hair fell loose, her narrow, peach-blossom eyes like deep whirlpools, forcing Yu Nanqing to meet her gaze. “Qingqing, who am I?”

Her voice was low, almost a whisper, her sweat-dampened brow tinged with a poisonous red, like a bewitching siren.

The call of “Qingqing” brought a fleeting moment of clarity to Yu Nanqing. Her voice choked as she murmured, “Xiao Qiling…”

Before the “Ling” fully left her lips, Xiao Qiling lost all restraint. She hooked Yu Nanqing’s chin, tilted her head, and pressed their lips together fiercely.

Tears welled in Yu Nanqing’s eyes as she was pinned against the dim bed curtains, struggling to breathe. The passionate kiss stirred deeper restlessness. She tried to turn away, but Xiao Qiling forced her back, her lips reclaiming hers with a punishing intensity.

Yu Nanqing’s hairpin clinked against the bedpost, making a faint sound. Xiao Qiling released her, removed the hairpin, and brushed her hand over Yu Nanqing’s still-burning cheek. Her voice hovered near Yu Nanqing’s lips. “Does it hurt?”

Yu Nanqing’s half-lidded eyes drooped. She instinctively wrapped her arms around Xiao Qiling’s back, pressing closer, her voice, laced with the scent of wine, soft and damp. “Mmm…”

Xiao Qiling tightened her grip on Yu Nanqing’s waist, deftly undoing her sash. Meeting Yu Nanqing’s hazy gaze, she leaned back slightly, lowered her head, and whispered, “Bear with it.”

At the first sharp gasp, Xiao Qiling covered Yu Nanqing’s lips with her hand.

Lanshi Garden called for water at midnight and summoned the physician again at the hour of the ox (1-3 a.m.).

The physician, impeccably dressed despite being roused from sleep, yawned as she checked Yu Nanqing’s pulse.

Yu Nanqing was fast asleep, her inner robe slightly askew, revealing faint traces of lingering red marks, as if her energy had been completely drained.

In contrast, Xiao Qiling was no longer in the court robes she’d worn earlier. Now in a water-red inner robe, barefoot, her demeanor carried a languid, intimate laziness.

She poured a cup of water, gently lifting Yu Nanqing to feed her a few sips before laying her back down. Setting the cup aside, her thoughts drifted, her unadorned face radiant and breathtaking, her peach-blossom eyes brimming with tenderness.

The bite mark on her exposed collarbone, still vivid, sparked the imagination.

The physician forced herself to focus, finishing the pulse check. “The Princess Consort’s pulse has stabilized. The drug has been purged from her system. When she wakes, I’ll prepare a tonic to restore her vitality.”

“Good. You may go.” Xiao Qiling said.

The physician packed her medical box and retreated to the door but hesitated and turned back.

Xiao Qiling’s slightly hoarse voice asked, “What else?”

The physician chose her words carefully. “When Your Highness brought the Princess Consort to me earlier, I noticed another drug affecting her pulse. But now, it’s gone along with the aphrodisiac. May I check Your Highness’s pulse?”

Xiao Qiling extended her hand.

After a moment, the physician found nothing unusual and sighed in relief.

Xiao Qiling, thoughtful, asked, “What were you suspecting?”

The physician answered honestly, “I’m not well-versed in aphrodisiacs, but the other anomaly in the Princess Consort’s pulse didn’t seem related to it. It was potent and elusive, resembling a ‘slippery pulse.’”

“Your Highness likely suspected this already. Years ago, Emperor Wenjing planned to poison you with a drug from Princess Rongxi. But you were clever, taking a similar poison I prepared to counter it and preserve your life.”

“The daughter sent by the Yu family has fully aligned Princess Rongxi with Prince Chen. Prince Xuan is inept in court affairs, and the younger princes are still too young. Your life is their greatest threat. After you left with the Princess Consort, I scoured medical texts and grew increasingly uneasy, wondering if this was another of Princess Rongxi’s schemes.”

With each word, Xiao Qiling’s gaze darkened. In the silence, the physician stepped back, her sleeve catching a cup by the bed, which shattered.

She hurriedly bent to pick up the pieces, growing more fearful. What was Princess Rongxi planning?

The poison in Xiao Qiling’s body wasn’t the one from Emperor Wenjing. They had no way of knowing Princess Rongxi’s true intentions.

“No need to be so nervous.” Xiao Qiling said, picking up the last shard. She smiled, her earlier menace replaced by calm indifference. “When Yin San returns, we’ll have answers about the West Garden. Since my dear aunt is so eager, I’ll play along and prepare a grand gift for her.”

The physician didn’t quite follow. “What gift, Your Highness?”

“Whether or not she’s targeting my poison, it’s been nearly a month since the last flare-up at the West Mountains. I’ll take these few days to close the gates and investigate the West Garden.”

Xiao Qiling leaned back against the bed, her smile relaxed as she toyed with Yu Nanqing’s hair. “My aunt cares so deeply for me. Naturally, I must return the favor with a grand gift at the Emperor’s birthday banquet.”

Her tone was gentle, but the physician sensed an impending storm.

She clutched her medical box. “Should we tell the Princess Consort the truth?”

Xiao Qiling turned to the bed, her brow furrowing for the first time, even after hearing about Princess Rongxi’s poisoning.

After a long pause, she said softly, “Her health is fragile. Let her recover.”

The physician glanced meaningfully at Yu Nanqing, then at Xiao Qiling. Fine, after bullying her so thoroughly, Xiao Qiling might as well use the poison as an excuse to gain some sympathy.

When Yu Nanqing woke, dawn was just breaking, the bed cloaked in darkness. She stared blankly for a moment, vaguely recalling being persuaded to drink by Princess Rongxi, leaving the princess’s manor, and being picked up by Xiao Qiling.

Then… did she kiss Xiao Qiling?

Her heart skipped a beat. She tested her waist and thighs, checking carefully, but found no soreness like in the novels.

She sighed in relief. Xiao Qiling must have gotten medicine from the physician to suppress the drug.

But before she could fully relax, another memory flashed: her pushing Xiao Qiling onto the bed, overlapping with a previous dream. Her pupils shrank, her heart pounding chaotically.

Good heavens.

Could it be… not Xiao Qiling doing something to her, but her taking advantage of Xiao Qiling while drunk?

Chen Xiang, hearing movement, entered with the physician, who carried a bowl of medicine.

“Miss, you’re awake?”

Yu Nanqing sat dazed on the bed, the curtains’ lingering scent hinting at something decadent, though she couldn’t recall details.

Hearing Chen Xiang, her gaze slowly shifted to them. “Was I with Her Highness last night?”

Chen Xiang nodded. “Her Highness left at dawn.”

Yu Nanqing hesitated, then probed, “What was Her Highness like when she left?”

Chen Xiang seemed unsure. “Miss, this is Lanshi Garden. I was only called to serve you this morning. As for Her Highness…”

She looked to the physician.

The physician held the dark medicine bowl. “It’s cooled enough. Drink it.”

Yu Nanqing pressed, “Why isn’t Her Highness here? Did she go to court?”

The physician sighed, meeting Yu Nanqing’s concerned, innocent gaze. Cursing Xiao Qiling inwardly, she lied, “Her Highness’s emotions were too intense last night, coinciding with her monthly poison flare-up. She was taken by the hidden guards this morning, but don’t worry, she’ll be fine in three days.”

Clatter—

Yu Nanqing’s hand, reaching for the bowl, froze, her face full of disbelief. “You said Her Highness…”

Intense emotions?

Triggered her poison?

The physician nodded gravely, deciding to put in a good word for Xiao Qiling. “Yes, Her Highness suppresses the poison with her internal energy. Last night’s exertion overwhelmed her, letting the poison flare.”

So, don’t hold it against her too much, considering her effort.

Yu Nanqing was stunned. The physician, seeing the medicine cooling, called, “Princess Consort?”

Yu Nanqing’s stiff gaze shifted, her face flushing suspiciously. She mumbled an “Oh,” got out of bed, and began washing up absentmindedly.

Her usually sharp mind replayed the physician’s words, now embellished by her imagination.

Xiao Qiling, exhausted, succumbed to her poison.

Xiao Qiling, exhausted from detoxifying her.

She, drugged and reckless, pushed Xiao Qiling to a poison flare-up?

The wet cloth slipped from her hand, splashing water.

Was she that unrestrained last night, so rough with Xiao Qiling?

Chen Xiang, hearing the splash, hurried over with a dry cloth. Yu Nanqing grabbed it, wiped haphazardly, and rushed to the physician, face red. “Is there medicine for her?”

The physician blinked. “For what?”

Thinking Yu Nanqing meant Xiao Qiling’s poison, she smiled. “The hidden guards are with her. She won’t be harmed. Rest assured.”

Yu Nanqing wasn’t asking about external injuries. But then she thought—Xiao Qiling, too proud to show weakness, wouldn’t let the physician know about that injury.

With Xiao Qiling’s poison causing partial memory loss, enduring pain and unable to speak of it, how aggrieved she must feel!

All because of Yu Nanqing’s insatiable demands. Guilt overwhelmed her. Throwing aside shame, she pulled the physician aside. “Is there a fast-acting salve for pain and swelling?”

The physician frowned. “Different injuries need different salves. Where are you hurt?”

Yu Nanqing coughed, lowering her voice. “Private areas.”

The physician froze.

What areas?

She wondered if she’d misheard or misunderstood.

Calmly, she asked again, “Princess Consort, where exactly?”

Yu Nanqing closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and blurted, “The private areas after intimacy. Get me something fast-acting, painless, with no lasting effects. Understand?”

She stared at the physician, expectant.

The physician: …

“You don’t get it?” Yu Nanqing, seeing no response, bit her lip, reluctant to repeat herself.

Thankfully, the physician spoke. “I understand.”

Suppressing her shock, she said calmly, “Please wait, Princess Consort.”

She rummaged through her box and handed Yu Nanqing a jar of salve. “Here.”

As Yu Nanqing took it, the physician’s expression grew complex. She cursed Xiao Qiling again inwardly. Xiao Qiling had been so diligent about the pulse check last night, making her think there was no issue.

So, she’d been injured there and didn’t ask?

Outrageous.

Absolutely outrageous!

The physician’s gaze softened with pity. “If you need anything else, just tell me.”

Yu Nanqing nodded eagerly. “Can I skip the medicine?”

“It’s for restoring vitality. I’ll adjust the recipe next time to make it less bitter, alright?” The physician’s tone was gentle, as if speaking to her own daughter.

Yu Nanqing glanced suspiciously at her, tucked the salve away, and downed the medicine. “Where’s Her Highness now? Is she in the manor?”

“In the warm pavilion.”

Before the physician finished, Yu Nanqing, not even grabbing an outer robe, rushed out.

The physician, worried about her mobility, called, “Shouldn’t you apply the salve first?”

Yu Nanqing, confused, replied, “I’m going to apply it!”

The physician: Huh?

The warm pavilion was just behind Lanshi Garden. Yu Nanqing hurried over, torn between how to apologize to Xiao Qiling and worrying about her condition.

Pushing open the door, she saw Xiao Qiling soaking in a pool, medicinal herbs floating on the surface, the air thick with their scent.

Xiao Qiling’s long hair was half-submerged, her face a mix of disheveled calm and sickly pallor. Water droplets slid down her neck, glistening, drawing the eye to the vivid bite mark on her collarbone—startlingly beautiful, like a broken, delicate flower.

Yu Nanqing had only meant to confirm it was her, but the bite mark made her grip the salve jar tightly, her feet rooted to the spot.

This was all her doing.

If she hadn’t insisted on helping Yu Nanrou, she wouldn’t have been drugged, wouldn’t have lost control, and wouldn’t have hurt Xiao Qiling.

Yu Nanqing covered her face with both hands. Just a few steps away, she couldn’t bring herself to move closer.

But thinking of Xiao Qiling enduring pain, she tightened her grip, exhaled deeply, and stepped forward.

Up close, Xiao Qiling’s marks looked even more severe. Not delaying further, Yu Nanqing rolled up her sleeve, scooped a generous amount of salve to prevent the water from washing it away, and reached into the pool.

Her hand passed Xiao Qiling’s arm, hesitated, then moved to tug at her undergarments.

Suddenly, Xiao Qiling, still as stone, grabbed her wrist. Her closed eyes snapped open, revealing crimson pupils, glowing with the poison’s allure, curving into crescent moons.

Yu Nanqing froze.

In that moment—

Xiao Qiling yanked her wrist, and with a splash—

She pulled Yu Nanqing into the water, embracing her fully.

Her slender fingers undid Yu Nanqing’s sash, her voice dripping with seduction. “I had no idea, Qingqing, that you were so insatiable.”