He found it difficult to speak about such matters. They had the audacity to commit the act, but he lacked the courage to describe it.
Feng Jin turned her gaze to Ling Mohan on the side. "Young General, why don't you go first? I'll go check on the child and be there shortly."
Ling Mohan put down the scroll in his hand, his eyes cast down as he nodded faintly.
"Hurry back after you've seen the child."
"Understood," Feng Jin replied with a smile.
The butler had intended to escort both of them, but now only one was being taken. Seeing that the young madam had said so, he could not refuse and proceeded to accompany the young general.
After the two left, Feng Jin's smile faded. It seemed Ling Changyi had been caught in the act. Fortunately, she had arranged for someone to report the matter to the Old Master Ling as soon as Ling Changyi entered, ensuring she wouldn't be able to leave even if she wanted to.
Zhang Miaor, having inhaled the aphrodisiac, had no idea what had happened and could not be questioned. She now needed to hurry and check on Ling Muzhu.
…
Chu Qing stepped forward to help Ling Muzhu towards the bathtub. With great effort, she managed to get him into the tub.
The icy cold water stimulated his nerves, and Ling Muzhu's consciousness gradually returned. He felt something gently brushing against his chest, a sensation as comfortable as a feather.
Ling Muzhu struggled to open his eyes and saw a delicate profile passing before him: exquisite willow-leaf eyebrows, small earlobes, and fair skin with a hint of pink. Following his fair, slender neck downwards…
"Second Young Master, you're awake?"
A clear voice reached Ling Muzhu's ears, instantly pulling his wandering thoughts back.
Ling Muzhu came back to his senses and realized what he had just done. His face immediately flushed crimson, shame flooding his mind as he felt remorse for his actions.
Suppressing his impulse, Ling Muzhu fiercely pinched his own arm.
"Stop pinching. Your arm is already covered in bruises."
When she had helped him up earlier, she had noticed the black and blue marks on his arm. If he continued pinching, there wouldn't be a single part of him left unmarked.
Chu Qing disregarded the boundaries between genders and pressed her nails into Ling Muzhu's hand.
The faint scent of a maiden's fragrance filled Ling Muzhu's nostrils. Already affected by the aphrodisiac, his body became restless. Even immersed in cold water, he felt his entire body burning, his breathing becoming erratic.
He hurriedly turned his head away, daring not to look at Chu Qing again. Why had he never noticed how beautiful this maid was before? Today, even a fleeting glance made his thoughts wander.
Ling Muzhu forced himself to calm down, reciting Buddhist scriptures repeatedly.
"Second Young Master, what's wrong? Your face is even redder than before."
Chu Qing began to worry slightly and reached out to touch Ling Muzhu's forehead. The scorching heat made her skin tingle with pain.
"So hot. The young madam didn't tell me what to do…"
"I... I'm fine... Please go out. I need to calm down alone..."
If Chu Qing continued to linger before him, it would only distract him further, making him involuntarily think of such things. If this continued, he would truly be unable to restrain himself.
"Ah! I... I..." Chu Qing was slightly startled. If she went out and something happened, she wouldn't be able to explain it to the young madam. She hastily shook her head and refused, "No, the young madam instructed me to stay by the Second Young Master's side and not leave him."
"I'll add some more ice water. The young madam ordered that the water temperature must not be too high."
Chu Qing reached out and felt the water temperature. It didn't seem as cool as before. She stood up to get the prepared ice water and poured it into the bathtub. Just as she was about to step down, her foot slipped, and she fell directly towards the bathtub.
Ling Muzhu, with quick reflexes, reached out and caught Chu Qing. With a slight exertion of force, he actually pulled her directly into the bathtub, causing a large splash of water.
Startled by the sudden submersion, Chu Qing flailed about in a panic. She grabbed onto something slightly firm and hot and slowly regained her footing.
His vital area was enveloped by softness. Ling Muzhu's mind went blank, and his body instantly froze in place. He blankly watched the drenched Chu Qing before him.
Her thin pink garment, soaked by the water, clung tightly to her body, outlining her beautiful curves.
Ling Muzhu's entire face turned red, his heart pounding furiously, and his breathing becoming abnormally heavy. He felt a sudden heat in his lower abdomen, and the suppressed urge abruptly released, alleviating some of the burning sensation.
When Chu Qing realized what had happened, her palm felt like it was holding a hot potato. A jolt went through her mind, and she instantly understood what she had grabbed. She let go abruptly and stumbled out as if fleeing.
As soon as she pushed open the door, she collided with Feng Jin, who had just arrived at the doorway.
Feng Jin rubbed her forehead, which was sore from the impact, and lifted her eyelids to look at the person she had bumped into. "Chu Qing, why are you all wet? What happened?"
Faced with Feng Jin's interrogation, Chu Qing didn't even know how to explain. Her small face was flushed red, and she shook her head blankly, stammering, "N-nothing, Young Madam... This servant will... will take her leave now..."
With that, Chu Qing's figure swept past her as if carried by a gust of wind.
Feng Jin watched Chu Qing's retreating back, her brow furrowed. What was wrong with this little maid? She had never seen Chu Qing so flustered before. Something must have happened, and she decided to ask Ling Muzhu if he knew anything.
Stepping inside, Feng Jin saw water stains all over the floor. Moving further in, she saw Ling Muzhu soaking in the bathtub, his expression dazed.
She pulled a piece of clothing from a nearby rack and threw it at Ling Muzhu. Feng Jin said coldly, "Put on the clothes and come out. I'll help you dissolve the medicinal properties."
Feng Jin's voice brought Ling Muzhu's wandering thoughts back. He had been soaking in the water for too long, and his legs trembled slightly as he stood up. Ling Muzhu grabbed the clothes, put them on, and shuffled out.
"Your complexion seems to have improved quite a bit."
His complexion looked almost normal. Feng Jin, not entirely reassured, placed her hand on Ling Muzhu's wrist and frowned slightly. "Has the aphrodisiac in your body been neutralized?"
Had her antidote been in vain? But how was it neutralized? Could it be…
The image of Chu Qing leaving in a daze, drenched, flashed in her mind. Feng Jin conjured a horrifying thought and fixed her cold gaze on the still-weak Ling Muzhu.
"Sister-in-law, why... why are you looking at me like that?"