The night was deep. Hutao and the night matron were sound asleep in the adjacent chamber, letting out soft snores.

Yu Lingxi had forgotten to put on shoes; her delicate white socks made no sound as they stepped on the wooden corridor.

Even such a heavy dose of calming soup couldn’t suppress the poison’s effects. She was dizzy and agitated as if walking on clouds, stumbling and unable to discern direction, only groping forward by instinct.

A path that normally took half a cup of tea’s time to walk now seemed endlessly long with no end in sight.

Her legs gave way, and Yu Lingxi collapsed against the moon gate, sliding to the ground. Darkness surged from all directions like a tide, pulling her down like a whirlpool.

She despised this feeling, but her body was beyond her control.

From a distance came the orderly footsteps of the night patrol guards. Their lanterns flickered into view, approaching her location.

Yu Lingxi had no strength to stand up, and her plain white sleeping clothes were particularly conspicuous in the night.

She dug her nails into her palms until they bled, even thinking self-destructively: Anyone would do, as long as they could help her escape this misery…

In her blurred, distorted vision appeared a pair of very familiar boots.

Yu Lingxi was startled. Following the dark hem upward, she saw an extremely familiar face.

The moonlight was faint, falling on him like a layer of light frost.

Meeting her unfocused gaze, Ning Yin made a very light “tsk” sound, and after a moment, squatted down and said: “What is the Young Miss enduring again?”

His voice was deep, seemingly displeased.

The patrol guards had already reached the corridor and could bring their lanterns over at any moment, potentially witnessing her embarrassing poisoned state.

Ning Yin remained leisurely motionless until the patrolling footsteps reached the corner just a wall away. The dark hem of his robe was wrinkled where she clutched it, and only then did he move.

He extended his arms to embrace Yu Lingxi, hiding her in the cramped space behind the artificial mountain in the corner.

Shrouded in shadow, the dry scent of Ning Yin’s body was undoubtedly a fatal temptation, reminding her of the addiction from the previous two episodes.

She made an uncontrollable soft “mmph” sound, which was immediately muffled as he pressed his hand over her mouth and pulled her closer.

Ning Yin’s lowered voice came from above her head, causing vibrations in his chest: “Silence.”

Fabric pressed against the fabric. Yu Lingxi, burning up in confusion, bit her lower lip hard.

Almost simultaneously, the guards shone their lanterns under the moon gate, illuminating the quiet moonlight scene and making the stone path appear white.

“Strange, I heard something just now.” The speaker’s voice was less than ten feet away.

“Perhaps it was that cat,” said another.

The guards stood there for a while, then walked away.

Yu Lingxi’s body had been pushed to the limit, and she immediately went limp, only to be caught in time by Ning Yin.

Her slender waist could be encircled with one hand, seeming boneless. Ning Yin tightened his arm and, looking into her eyes, said softly: “The sleeping quarters aren’t quite safe. Would the Young Miss mind coming to my place?”

Yu Lingxi, burning with clouded judgment, was breathing in short, rapid breaths, and could only nod in agreement to whatever he said.

A large crow-colored outer robe came down, enveloping Yu Lingxi completely.

Then she felt herself lifted, cradled in strong arms. Warm palms pressed against her legs, and she instinctively curled closer into Ning Yin’s embrace.

Entering the chamber, Ning Yin used his toe to close the door behind them.

The sound of the bolt sliding into place made Yu Lingxi’s shoulders tremble.

“I’m accustomed to a hard bed. I hope the Young Miss will make do.”

His footsteps were steady as he placed the trembling, thinly-clad young woman on the only bed, then rose to fetch water to clean her hands, which had been soiled from leaning against walls along the way.

The cool, damp cotton cloth started with her delicate fingers, then moved to her palm, and gradually extended across the back of her hand to her abnormally hot forearm.

The areas wiped experienced a brief coolness, only to burn even hotter afterward.

“Wei… Wei Qi?”

Her cotton-soft voice was urgent, without any strength.

“Mm.”

Ning Yin responded lightly, unhurried.

Before Yu Lingxi’s eyes was a scene of strange, colorful distortions. Unable to distinguish dream from reality, she instinctively grasped Ning Yin’s hand. The man’s hand had long joints, with handsome tendons slightly protruding, naturally suited for controlling everything.

She squeezed her five fingers into the gaps between his, interlocking their hands, and revealed a peach blossom-like, dazzling, misty smile.

Ning Yin’s wiping hand slowed somewhat, and he raised an eyebrow slightly.

He knew the third poisoning episode would evoke hallucinations, dreamlike until one’s consciousness was completely eroded, falling into an abyss of extreme pleasure.

“Last time, the Young Miss said my kissing technique was lacking, so I studied from books.”

As he spoke, Ning Yin threw the cotton cloth into the copper basin. His dark eyes swirled with amusement. “Would the Young Miss like to check my progress?”

He knew Yu Lingxi couldn’t hold on much longer, but still maliciously sat upright, waiting for her to take the initiative.

Indeed, Yu Lingxi drew slightly closer in discomfort, supporting herself on his shoulders to approach him, skillfully kissing the tip of his nose, then moving downward to press a feather-light kiss on his cold, thin lips.

Ning Yin bent his elbow, casually resting his damp hand on the small table by the bed to dry, his slightly raised eyes half-closed.

Only when she showed disappointment and dissatisfaction did he slightly tilt his head, obediently parting his lips.

When her lips felt a pain, Yu Lingxi frowned, but before she could make a sound, it was all pushed back into her.

“The Young Miss is shy, be quieter.”

His voice was hoarse and deep as he gently used his finger to spread the faint red on her lips, like applying vibrant rouge.

The familiar gesture made Yu Lingxi’s entire body tremble as if suddenly extracted from a beautiful, moist dream.

“So shy, yet you still came crawling…”

Her ears seemed to hear a familiar light sneer, and the dim candlelight blurred into spots, transforming into a floor-standing floral lamp.

Her chest heaved as she retreated slightly, her misty gaze fixed unblinkingly on Ning Yin.

Ning Yin was quite displeased with her distraction. The hand that had been leisurely resting at his side finally moved, rising to hold the back of her head as he tilted his own and pressed down on her.

Yu Lingxi still kept her eyes wide open, her eyelashes trembling.

On Ning Yin’s collar, she saw large splashes of flowers, black-red and wet, dripping down.

The ghostly pale face of Ning Yin overlapped with the young man before her. Yu Lingxi clutched the bedding tightly, her unfocused pupils beginning to shake violently.

Ning Yin noticed her unusual state and paused slightly.

His deep eyes swirled like dark currents as he looked at the trembling Yu Lingxi and asked hoarsely: “Does the Young Miss no longer value her life, still wanting to endure?”

“I’m sorry…”

Yu Lingxi felt nauseated but couldn’t stop herself from pressing closer.

Her eyes were full of fear, yet still, as if bewitched, she pressed her trembling lips against Ning Yin’s pale ones.

Ning Yin lowered his gaze to look at her quivering pupils but didn’t move.

He knew the third episode of the poison was the most potent, causing hallucinations that grew deeper and deeper. But most people would see beautiful things, rarely experiencing what Yu Lingxi was…

“What does the Young Miss see, hmm?”

Ning Yin’s collar was loosened as he raised his finger to pinch Yu Lingxi’s chin, preventing her from moving erratically, forcing her to look at his face.

Tears seeped from the corners of Yu Lingxi’s eyes, bringing a trace of gorgeous, heart-aching wetness. She only repeatedly murmured the words “I’m sorry.”

Ning Yin’s eyes darkened as he asked: “Unwilling?”

Yu Lingxi’s teeth drew blood from her gums as she tremblingly placed her hand on his neck, like grasping at a final lifeline, yet also like fearing she would drag this innocent lifeline into the abyss with her.

At first, Ning Yin thought Yu Lingxi’s stubbornness was acting up again, but he quickly realized that wasn’t it.

The previous two times, Yu Lingxi’s eyes had shown stubborn resistance, but this time, only fear and pain remained in her eyes.

“I didn’t mean… to harm you…”

Ning Yin leaned down and heard only this confused sentence.

He was stunned for a moment, then suddenly sneered: What kind of talk was this?

This filthy body of his—even he wouldn’t mind stabbing it a few more times—what did she have to fear?

“It hurts so much…” Yu Lingxi cried as she nuzzled closer, even her neck flushed hot, full of fragrant warmth.

Ning Yin hesitated, slowly raising his hand in what might be considered a comforting stroke of her smooth hair.

But it couldn’t soothe her pain.

Continuing like this, even if she successfully detoxified, the pain would outweigh the pleasure.

After a long silence, their breaths intermingled.

Ning Yin opened the drawer of the low cabinet by the bed and took out a white jade bottle given by Zhe Ju.

“Open your mouth.” His voice was hoarse and detached.

Yu Lingxi could no longer hear his words; she only cried while desperately seeking comfort against his body.

Ning Yin let out a low groan, suppressing that irritating pain, and pulled her biting mouth away from his neck. He pinched her cheeks and fed her the pill.

An indescribable bitterness exploded on her tongue.

Yu Lingxi didn’t care about her physical discomfort anymore and lunged toward the edge of the bed with a whimper.

“No spitting.”

Ning Yin grabbed her rounded, thin shoulders and pushed her back onto the bed. “Swallow it if you don’t want to die.”

Yu Lingxi struggled disobediently. Ning Yin’s eyes darkened, and he simply pinned down her restless wrists, leaning down to seal her lips with his own, his tongue pushing the pill that had reached the edge of her mouth back in.

Yu Lingxi whimpered twice, desperately kicking her legs, but under the young man’s absolute restraint, it was like an ant trying to shake a tree—utterly futile.

Gradually, even the “whimpering” resistance faded, leaving only fine sobbing.

Ning Yin carefully “fed” the medicine until it was all gone, then opened his ink-black eyes and slowly withdrew from her lips.

“Bitter.” Yu Lingxi pressed her lips together, her eyes red from crying.

Ning Yin licked his reddened lips and chuckled softly: “Where is it bitter?”

It was very sweet.

The moon’s shadow moved westward, and the tree shadows outside the window swayed.

The candle hadn’t been trimmed, and the firelight gradually dimmed.

Yu Lingxi’s breath was scalding. After being quiet for less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, she regained some strength and again burrowed into Ning Yin’s embrace, gently nuzzling against him.

The antidote for Extreme Pleasure Incense had been lost. This medicine was something he had asked Zhe Ju to develop using the formula for Extreme Pleasure Incense. Time had been too tight, and the medicine wasn’t immediately effective. After taking it, there would still be residual poison, but it would no longer cause life-threatening pain.

Originally, he had feared that his inexperience might cause some oversight, so this was his backup plan.

After all, he presently had some fondness for Yu Lingxi and didn’t want her to develop a chronic illness or lose her life because of this.

Unexpectedly, she had cried so fiercely, saying she didn’t want to harm him, every move stabbing at his heart…

Ning Yin rarely made a losing deal, and he was quite displeased.

He played with her hair aimlessly, coolly glancing at the head nuzzling against his chest, unmoved as he said: “The Young Miss shouldn’t push her luck.”

Taking his medicine and expecting him to handle the aftermath—how could there be such a good deal?

Yu Lingxi amused herself for a moment, and seeing he wouldn’t respond, hazily raised her eyes.

Her eyes were red at the corners, vulnerable yet beautiful. Her arms were proportioned like frost and snow, her slender waist outlined by raw silk.

Ning Yin’s hand playing with her hair slowed down, hesitating momentarily between knocking her unconscious and collecting his “interest”…

Finally, he lowered his gaze and, as if venting anger, opened his mouth to bite her delicate fingertips, grinding them gently with his canine teeth.

The candle on the table had burned to its end, leaving a thick pool of wax tears on the candlestick.

Ning Yin’s lips had also taken on a crimson hue. Sitting on the edge of the bed, half his handsome face hidden in the dim light, he methodically wiped the moisture from his fingers onto the hem of her dress.

After the poison attack, Yu Lingxi was extremely tired and drowsy. She opened her eyes hazily and looked at the man sitting by the bed with his robe draped over him.

Her thoughts were chaotic, still thinking she was in a hallucination, and instinctively blurted out: “Your Highness…”

Her voice was too soft for Ning Yin to pay much attention. He casually asked: “What did you call me?”

Yu Lingxi’s curled eyelashes slowly closed, her rapid breathing steadying.

After a while, she mumbled: “Ning Yin.”

Ning Yin’s hand, which had been wiping, suddenly froze, and he slowly raised his eyes.