Chapter 140: Sinking

**Chapter 140: Downfall**

The room was filled with a foul stench, yet the man holding her smelled of pine and ink.

"My lord, what should we do with these beggars?"

Changyuan cradled Chun Tao, his sword slipping in his weary grip.

Thankfully, they had kept watch on the Chancellor’s estate—otherwise, Mistress Xie and Chun Tao would have been in grave danger.

Wei Xun removed his cloak and wrapped it around the woman in his arms.

A Yuan, drugged, had a face flushed with heat, her hands instinctively reaching toward his chest.

Though the scene was provocative, Wei Xun felt only fury.

"Dose them and toss them inside."

Death would be too merciful.

They dared harm A Yuan—now they would bear his fury.

"Yes!" Changyuan obeyed.

Outside, Zhang Feng and his men had already surrounded the place. These agents wouldn’t escape their grasp.

If not for fear of harming Mistress Xie, they wouldn’t have waited this long to act.

The Chancellor’s guards waited outside, growing uneasy as no sound came from the room. Just as they were about to investigate, a group of black-robed men dropped down from above.

"Who… who are you?"

They panicked. They hadn’t even noticed these people arrive—what had happened inside?

Zhang Feng, though usually nonchalant, was a master of martial arts.

He signaled behind him sharply. "Move out! Whoever captures the most gets a heavy reward today!"

Morons—picking a fight with *her*?

Did they really think their master was some meek scholar?

That old fool Su Quan must’ve lost his damn mind!

"Yes!"

The Marquis’s men surged forward, outmatching the Chancellor’s guards in skill and outnumbering them two to one. Before the latter could react, they were all pinned down.

Zhang Feng sneered at them. "These were the Chancellor’s best men? Disgraceful!"

"Pour more of the drug into them. Since they love beggars so much, let them get their fill!"

"Don't worry, Boss. We won’t hold back. That love potion? Plenty to go around!"

"No, no! What are you doing? Stay back!"

The Chancellor’s guards finally realized—they were being made to suffer their own scheme turned against them.

At the thought of those filth-ridden beggars, their knees buckled in fear.

"Young Lord, spare us... No, kill us—we beg you, kill us!"

They would rather die than be defiled by those beggars.

But Chang Feng had no intention of granting their wish.

"Heh! Want to die? Dream on! Make them drink it!"

Each of the dozen dark guards was forced to consume two bowls. The aphrodisiac was from the palace—extremely potent. Even the strongest warriors couldn't resist its effects after two bowls.

Seeing the men lose control right then, Chang Feng waved a hand in disgust. "Lock them all inside. Watch them closely—no one gets out."

"Yes, sir!"

......

"I'm burning up..."

Inside the carriage, A Yuan tugged at Wei Xun's sleeve.

Her thoughts were muddled, her hands instinctively pulling at her clothes.

Her slender neck was bare, but she kept tugging lower, desperate for relief.

"I'm so hot… touch me…"

She pulled his hand to her chest, the dim carriage heavy with desire.

Wei Xun swallowed hard, his dark eyes darkened with need.

He let his hand relax as she guided him.

"A Yuan, do you know who I am?"

His voice was husky, his breath warm against her skin, making her shiver.

A Yuan blinked open her eyes, and in the faint light, she recognized his face.

"Young Lord… you're the Young Lord…"

She nuzzled into his palm, her glassy eyes begging.

"Young Lord, please save me."

The heat inside her was unbearable, desperate for something cool to soothe it.

And Wei Xun was the only cure.

His fingers shook as they traced her cheek. "Don’t regret this."

A Yuan wasn’t herself—this was wrong.

Yet Wei Xun, to his shame, wanted her.

"Young Lord…"

She was past waiting, lowering her lips to his fingertip. Her mouth was hot and wet around his finger, and with that, the last shred of his restraint shattered.

Even regret wouldn't stop him now.

The carriage became a haven of passion.

......

When Ayuan woke up, it was already midday the next day.

Her whole body felt as if it had been run over by a carriage, sore and weak.

Especially between her legs, the pain was so intense it numbed her.

The room was empty, and as she looked around the unfamiliar space, her memories from when she was unconscious began to return.

She vaguely remembered being knocked out and drugged, and that they were going to give her to beggars to be violated.

But after that, her memory was a blank.

Ayuan's face turned pale, and she hurriedly pulled back the covers.

Her body was covered in marks; even without her memory, she could imagine how fierce the struggle must have been last night.

Could it be that she...

Ayuan's mind went blank, her hands trembling uncontrollably, and she didn't even hear the door open.

"Awake?"

Wei Xun entered with a tray and, seeing Ayuan awake, sat down beside the bed.

"Still feeling unwell?"

He set the tray down and reached out to touch the woman's forehead.

Last night, she had been calling out with fever all night, and Wei Xun was afraid she might collapse from exhaustion.

A Yuan's sight blurred as she lifted her head in a daze.

"Did you, Young Master, save me?"

"Yeah." Wei Xun felt her forehead, not noticing the look in her eyes.

A Yuan clamped down on her red lips, then continued hesitantly, "Then... the man last night?"

Her hands gripped the bedsheet tightly, her heart leaping to her throat.

She was afraid—afraid of hearing the worst news she could imagine.

Wei Xun lowered his gaze, locking eyes with her.

Her almond eyes were swollen and red, filled with terror.

He pulled his hand back from her forehead and brushed away her tears with his thumb.

"It was me."

He lowered his eyes, unable to face her.

Though he had saved her, he'd acted partly out of selfishness. He feared she would hate him.

It was Wei Xun, not a beggar.

A Yuan's heart settled heavily back into place. Her body went limp as she swayed backward—thankfully, he caught her before she fell.

"Th... thank you."

She clung to the man's arm and thanked him weakly.

Right now, she didn’t have the energy to wonder why Wei Xun had suddenly appeared there—her heart was filled only with the relief of survival.

“Where’s Chun Tao? Was she rescued?”

She clutched Wei Xun’s sleeve, urgently questioning him.

“Don’t worry, Chun Tao is with Chang Yuan—he’s got her.”

Hearing that the maid was safe, A Yuan finally relaxed.

“Who were the people who captured us? Will they come back?”

A Yuan couldn’t figure out who she’d crossed—those men were clearly out to destroy her.

Remembering how brutal they’d been, she couldn’t help but shudder.

Wei Xun’s eyes turned cold as he pulled her closer.

“Don’t worry, there won’t be a next time.”

He had already delivered the evidence of Su Quan’s secret weapon production to Emperor Chengyuan’s desk—this time, he won’t recover.

A Yuan could tell he was keeping something from her, but she was too exhausted to think about it.

“Eat something first. Later, I’ll treat your wounds.”