Chapter 408: Chapter 151 Nightmare_2
It was the vague silhouette of a woman.
The woman seemed to press against him from behind, whispering in his ear, gently, ethereally, like a fragmentary dream, "Do you still remember Fengle Building?"
Fengle Building?
He was still stunned when he suddenly felt something cold against his neck.
Qi Yutai instinctively sensed danger, wanted to scream, wanted to struggle to his feet, but realized his body was as if bound by invisible ropes, without a trace of strength to struggle, even the words he tried to utter were weak and soft, he said, "Who are you?"
The cold touch moved along his neck, but the other party did not respond.
"Young Master Qi," the person asked again, "Do you still remember Fengle Building?"
With those words, the coldness at his neck deepened.
Qi Yutai convulsed.
He didn’t remember anything about a Fengle Building.
He wanted to leave, wanted to wake up from this baffling nightmare, but when he opened his mouth, he could only let out a faint, "Help—"
The person’s action paused.
After a while, Qi Yutai heard her speak, she said, "Young Master Qi, do you really not remember?"
"In the thirty-seventh year of Yongchang, you met a woman in Fengle Building..."
"You killed her."
What was she talking about?
Which woman, what about killing her, he didn’t understand at all, he could only struggle weakly.
That voice slowly said, "On the first day of the ’Jingzhe’ in the thirty-seventh year of Yongchang, you were enjoying yourself in Fengle Building and came across a woman."
"The woman was going to deliver hangover soup to her husband, but seeing her beauty, you forcefully took possession of her..."
"Later, when the woman became pregnant, to destroy the evidence, you exterminated her entire family of four..."
"Young Master Qi..."
The voice was gentle and tender, like a needle dipped in poison, suddenly piercing the secret depths of his heart.
"Do you truly not remember?"
Qi Yutai froze.
All around was silent as death, as if there were no other sounds in heaven and earth. Suddenly, bustle arose anew; he raised his head, face to face with a warmth carrying the fragrance of flowers.
It was a woman dressed in a Peach Blossom Cloud Mist Yarn Luo Shirt with a Flying Fairy Bun, exceptionally charming, who reached out to hold his arm, smiling as she said, "Young Master, is this your first time at Fengle Building? Such a handsome face, you must have fun tonight..."
Fengle Building...
He suddenly remembered, today was indeed his first visit to Fengle Building.
His father had always confined him, forbidding him to go out.
The best Yuxian Tower in Shengjing was filled with his father’s acquaintances. It was fine for him to hold birthday banquets there, but should he wish to do anything else, it would be reported back to his family at once.
As the son of the Grand Preceptor, he always had to mind his behavior and speech, never feeling free.
Fengle Building was a new discovery, not as luxurious as Yuxian Tower, but still pleasing to the eye, and best of all, there were no people there from his father, giving him the rare freedom to do as he pleased without being watched.
He followed the enchantingly dressed woman to the loft, entering the private room inside. Someone of his status naturally could not enjoy pleasure in the hall like commoners.
The room exuded an exotic and tranquil fragrance; on the low couch inside, two singers were bowing their heads, playing the zither. The music was long and pleasant, intoxicating to the heart.
Qi Yutai walked in and sat down in front of the low couch.
On the table, there was a blue and white Jade Pot, two White Jade Lotus Petal Pattern Bowls, and a small package wrapped in oil paper.
He picked up the pot, poured a full bowl of the warm, fragrant and strong wine, and then opened the oil paper package set aside. Accompanied by the hot wine, he tilted his head back and swallowed the contents of the package; the fiery wine flowed down his throat, spreading a burning heat in his stomach.
Qi Yutai closed his eyes, letting out a comfortable sigh.
The substance was Cold Food Powder.
Cold Food Powder was magical; after taking it, one would look energetic and radiant, and feel pleasures beyond the ordinary, as if floating to the heavens.
However, Cold Food Powder was poisonous; prolonged use could harm the body. The previous emperor once decreed that it should be banned throughout the nation. Nevertheless, many young nobles still took it in secret.
Qi Yutai was one of them.
He had become addicted to it at a young age and once it had gotten out of control, until his father Qi Qing caught him in the act. The Grand Preceptor dismissed all the servants around him and confined him to the house for a full half year, forcefully making him quit.
But addiction is a thing that can break the stem, but not the root.
Every year, Qi Yutai would find a few opportunities to secretly take Cold Food Powder behind Qi Qing’s back.
He adored that heavenly sensation, no longer the disciplined Grand Preceptor’s son in everyone’s eyes, but like a bird, soaring freely through the woods, escaping his father’s shadow, grasping the freedom he so longed for yet could not obtain.