Chapter 28

Chapter 28

After the meal, the two returned to the rear courtyard as usual.

Having washed up, Wang Ying felt a bit warm, initially attributing it to the hot pot and not giving it much thought.

Chen Qingyan, also feeling the heat, shed his cotton coat, wearing only an underrobe. He lit an oil lamp to prepare for the next day's lessons.

At that moment, neither was aware of the potency of the meat they had eaten.

After reviewing the account books for a while, sweat beaded on Wang Ying’s nose and forehead. He poured himself a cup of cold water and gulped it down, yet still felt an intense heat throughout his body.

"Why is it so hot today?"

Chen Qingyan was no better. His cheeks were flushed crimson, like ripe tomatoes, and his back was nearly drenched in sweat.

"I don’t know either, but it really is quite warm."

Wang Ying put away the account books, draped his coat over his shoulders, and stepped outside for some fresh air. The snow had stopped, leaving a thin layer across the courtyard.

Logically, with temperatures already seven or eight degrees below freezing and only one brazier in the room, it shouldn't have been this hot. It was truly peculiar.

After a short while in the cool air, the heat on his face subsided slightly. As he turned to re-enter the room, he bumped into Chen Qingyan, who was carrying clothes and heading out.

"What are you doing out so late?"

"It’s too hot—I’m drenched in sweat. I’m going to the bathing room for a wash."

"Be careful not to catch a cold."

"Don’t worry, you should rest early."

Chen Qingyan went to the bathing room, where half a pot of hot water remained. He filled a wooden tub halfway with cold water, added a few ladles of hot water, and took a warm bath.

He felt refreshed immediately after washing, but as soon as he changed clothes, he started sweating again.

"This is truly strange." Chen Qingyan simply stayed outside in his thin underrobe until his hands and feet turned cold before returning to the bedroom.

Inside, Wang Ying was already snoring. With unsold vegetables at the shop, there was no need to tend to the experimental plots for the next few days, so he had gone to bed earlier than usual.

Chen Qingyan tiptoed into bed but still felt an unbearable heat. To his embarrassment, his body began to react in a particular way.

He closed his eyes, trying hard to ignore it, but that unspeakable part of his body was swollen and throbbing…

This wasn’t the first time Chen Qingyan had experienced this, but usually, it would subside on its own if he ignored it. Today, however, it wouldn’t, and he had no idea how to relieve it. Tormented, he writhed on the bed.

Around midnight, Wang Ying woke up parched, his throat stinging painfully. As soon as he sat up, something dripped from his nose. He touched it, realized something was wrong, and quickly got out of bed to light the oil lamp.

It was a nosebleed, and a heavy one at that.

Wang Ying assumed it was due to the dry weather and didn’t think much of it. He pressed a handkerchief to his nose, drank two cups of water, and prepared to go back to sleep.

As he got into bed, he accidentally brushed against Chen Qingyan and noticed his body was burning hot. "Are you running a fever?"

The person on the bed let out a faint groan.

"Damn, I’ve been terribly hot tonight too. Let me get you some water."

The person on the bed mumbled incoherently and didn’t stir.

"If you don’t get up, how will you drink? You’ll soak the bedding."

Chen Qingyan still didn’t move. Only then did Wang Ying realize something was seriously wrong. The person on the bed was drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled from water, his face abnormally red, and he was already delirious.

"Chen Qingyan, wake up! Wake up!"

There was no response. Wang Ying, terrified, ran out, shouting, "Uncle Chen, Uncle Chen!"

Soon, a light turned on in the side room, and Uncle Chen emerged in his cotton coat. "What’s wrong, Young Master?"

"Qing Yan seems to have a high fever. Go fetch a physician, quick!"

"Right away!" Uncle Chen hurried off without delay.

The commotion in the backyard reached the main courtyard. Li Shi sat up upon hearing the noise and asked the new maid what time it was.

"Madam, it’s just past midnight."

Li Shi smiled knowingly. "These two are really something, still awake at this hour."

After a while, the sounds seemed different, as if someone was calling for a physician. Li Shi grew uneasy. "Xiao Yue, go to the backyard and see what’s happening."

The maid put on her clothes, took a lantern, and headed to the backyard. At the door, she saw the young master’s room brightly lit and heard the young master’s frantic cries.

"Young Master, what’s happening?"

"Qing Yan has a high fever and has passed out!"

"Ah!" Xiao Yue rushed back to report. Soon after, Li Shi hurried over in her cloak.

"What’s going on?"

"I don’t know. He was fine before bed, but when I woke up in the middle of the night, he was like this."

By then, Chen Qingyan was completely unconscious from the fever, unresponsive to calls, with occasional twitching in his hands and feet. Wang Ying resorted to the fever-reducing methods he knew, placing a wet cloth on his forehead and wiping his neck and armpits with a cool, damp cloth to cool him down.

"How could this happen? How?" Li Shi’s eyes reddened as she paced in circles anxiously. Her son’s health had been improving—how could he suddenly fall so ill again?

Time passed slowly, with no improvement in his condition. For the first time, Wang Ying resented the lack of modern hospitals in ancient times, leaving them waiting helplessly at home.

Over half an hour later, Uncle Chen finally returned with the physician. The old physician was accustomed to visiting the Chen household and went straight to Chen Qingyan’s bedside without a word.

After checking his pulse, the physician frowned and asked, "When did the fever start?"

"I’m not sure, but he felt hot before bed and even took a bath. I also felt unusually hot and only realized he had a high fever when I woke up thirsty in the middle of the night."

The physician stroked his beard and continued, "What did you eat tonight?"

"We had hot pot with meat and radish. By the way, Mother, what kind of meat was it?"

Li Shi suddenly understood. "It was… venison! It must be because of the venison!"

"Foolish! His body has just recovered—how could he eat something like that? Weakness cannot withstand such tonics. This has blocked his vital essence."

Upon hearing this, Li Shi began to weep. How could she have known? If she had known it was harmful, she would never have given it to her son.

Wang Ying asked anxiously, "What should we do now?"

"Have the two of you had marital relations?"

"What, what do you mean by that?"

The physician looked up at him. "The rites of Zhou Gong."

Wang Ying, finally understanding, flushed bright red. "N-no, we haven't… I went to bed early today…"

"No wonder. If his vital essence is congested, his fever won't break naturally. Help him find release a few times; once he sweats, his temperature will come down."

"Is there no other way?"

The physician said, "You could also put him in cold water for fifteen minutes, but can his body handle that?"

"Alright then…"

"I'll prescribe a tonic to replenish his qi. Have it prepared tomorrow, and remember, he must not eat such things again."

"Understood. Sorry to trouble you so late." Wang Ying took out some money and pressed it into his hand. Waking someone in the middle of the night shouldn't be for nothing, or they might not come next time.

Uncle Chen saw the physician out. Li Shi looked at her son and his husband with guilt. Her good intentions had led to trouble, and what pained her more was that her son and his husband didn't seem close.

"Ying'er…"

"Mother, you should go back first. I'll take care of Qing Yan."

Li Shi nodded, said nothing, and turned to leave.

Only the two of them remained in the room. The person on the bed was still unconscious. Wang Ying sighed, blew out the candle, removed his undergarments, and got into bed.

"Just so you know, I'm not trying to take liberties with you. You're sick, and I'm helping you get better."

…

No response from the bed.

"If you don't say anything, I'll take it as consent."

In his previous life, Wang Ying was a normal man and certainly knew how to handle himself—not only knew how but was quite good at it.

But doing it for someone else was a first, and he felt rather self-conscious.

Steeling himself, he reached out. The moment he touched Chen Qingyan's skin, the searing heat made him pull back.

After mentally preparing himself—this was legitimate help, no big deal!—he reached out again. The moment he took hold, he couldn't help but curse under his breath.

Who would have thought? This guy usually looked so frail, but he was hiding quite a surprise!

He moved tentatively a few times. The person on the bed emitted a low groan. It seemed to be working…

Continuing to work, Chen Qingyan's breathing suddenly grew heavier, and he actually started calling out Wang Ying's name.

"A Ying…"

Wang Ying, blushing, responded, "I'm here."

"I feel awful…"

"You'll feel better soon."

He quickened his pace. Chen Qingyan's whole body tensed, and it was over in less time than it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Wang Ying breathed a sigh of relief. Good, good. It looked impressive but was nothing special—nowhere near as good as his own.

But within moments, the guy was aroused again. Chen Qingyan whimpered restlessly, "A Ying, A Ying…"

Wang Ying resignedly took hold again. This time, he went slower, but after the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, the other was still going strong. He simply changed position, sitting on Chen Qingyan's legs, using both hands with skill.

"Wang Ying…"

"Stop saying my name, damn it. It's getting me worked up too."

Chen Qingyan closed his eyes, as if still not fully aware of what was happening. His most vulnerable part was being handled by the other, the intense pleasure making his vision blur.

This was his first time experiencing such intimacy, and with someone he liked at that. It made him tremble all over, and soon he came with a low growl.

Wang Ying quickly wiped his hands clean with a handkerchief and lay back on the bed, sweating from exertion.

"A Ying."

"You're awake?"

"Mm… What's going on?"

"Your mother made deer meat tonight. It's an aphrodisiac. Your body was too weak to handle it, so you developed a high fever. The physician told me to help you… release the heat."

"No wonder…" Chen Qingyan's face flushed slightly.

"How do you feel now? Still unwell?"

"Much better."

Wang Ying worriedly checked his forehead—still a bit warm.

Chen Qingyan shyly turned away.

"What are you hiding from? It's not as if I haven't touched you elsewhere. The physician said you need to release a few more times, or your body won't hold up. Since you're awake, you can do it yourself."

"I don't know how…"

"What's so hard about it? Just grip it and stroke."

"Brother, teach me."

"Damn…" Wang Ying got chills at the term, and almost involuntarily, reached out again.

Unlike the previous times, both were fully conscious now. After a few strokes, Wang Ying pulled back awkwardly. "You do it yourself. It's tiring…"

But the other directly pressed his hand back, moving it up and down.

Their bodies drew closer. Chen Qingyan turned his head, resting his chin on Wang Ying's shoulder, his hot, ragged breaths brushing against Wang Ying's ear.

Wang Ying's breath hitched; his heart felt like it was in his throat.

"Brother, faster…" The hoarse voice made half his body go weak. Wang Ying gave in, turned, and embraced him.

The kiss seemed to happen naturally.

Their scorching lips met. Wang Ying parted his lips slightly, sucking on Chen Qingyan's lower lip. Chen Qingyan, as if by instinct, darted his tongue out to lick his upper lip.

Their lips parted briefly, then met again more closely. The air filled with the sound of wet, sticky kisses.

[Content Redacted]

The next morning, Chen Qingyan opened his eyes, feeling like he'd been run over by a truck, his entire body aching and sore.

The person beside him had already gotten up, and their clothes had been changed. Only the lingering scent of musk in the room hinted at how long their wild night had lasted.

Chen Qingyan touched his lips and couldn't help smiling to himself.

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Author's Note: The story launches tomorrow, with updates at 11 PM.