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    Chapter 28(Mild NSFW)

    After dinner, the two went to the backyard as usual.

    After washing up, Wang Ying felt a bit hot. At first, he thought it was just from eating the hot pot and didn’t pay it much mind.

    Chen Qingyan, feeling hot as well, took off his padded coat, wearing only a thin jacket. He lit an oil lamp and began preparing lessons for the next day.

    At this moment, neither of them knew the true potency of the meat they had eaten.

    After looking over the account books for a while, Wang Ying’s nose and forehead began to sweat. He poured himself a glass of cool water and gulped it down but still felt intensely warm all over.

    “Why is it so hot tonight?”

    Chen Qingyan was no better—his cheeks were flushed like ripe tomatoes, and his back was nearly soaked with sweat.

    “I don’t know. It is definitely a bit hot.”

    Wang Ying packed away the books, put on his clothes, and went outside for some fresh air. The snow outside had stopped, leaving a thin layer scattered on the courtyard.

    By all accounts, the temperature should have been around minus seven or eight degrees Celsius now, and with only one stove burning inside, it should not have felt this warm. It was truly strange.

    After a while of blowing cool air on his face, the heat somewhat subsided. He turned to go back inside and bumped into Chen Qingyan, who was holding his clothes preparing to leave.

    “Going out so late, where to?”

    “Too hot. Sweating all over. I’m going to the bathhouse for a wash.”

    “Don’t catch a cold.”

    “It’s alright. Better to rest early.”

    Chen Qingyan reached the bathhouse, where there was still half a pot of hot water. He added half a bucket of cold water into the wooden tub and scooped some hot water to wash with, bathing in warm water.

    After washing, he indeed felt cooler at first. But by the time he changed clothes, sweat began to flow again.

    “This is really strange.” Chen Qingyan stayed outside in just his thin clothes to air out for a while until his feet grew cold before going to the bedroom.

    Inside, Wang Ying was already snoring. The vegetables at the stall hadn’t sold out; these past few days, there was no need to go to the experimental field. Tonight he was sleeping earlier than usual.

    Chen Qingyan tiptoed to lie down on the bed, still feeling unbearably hot. What embarrassed him even more was that his body began to show certain reactions.

    He closed his eyes forcibly trying not to think about it, but the private parts were swelling and aching…

    This wasn’t the first time Chen Qingyan felt this way, but before it had naturally subsided if ignored. Tonight, no matter what, it wouldn’t go away, and he had no idea how to relieve it. Feeling uncomfortable, he kept wriggling on the bed.

    Around midnight, Wang Ying woke from thirst, his throat painfully dry. Upon sitting up, his nose started leaking fluid. He touched it and realized something was wrong—he hurried to get out of bed and lit an oil lamp.

    His nose was bleeding—quite a lot too.

    Wang Ying thought it was just the dry weather causing it and didn’t think too much, using a handkerchief to block it, drinking a glass of water, then intending to go back to sleep.

    When he got into bed, he accidentally bumped into Chen Qingyan and noticed his body was burning hot. “Are you running a fever?”

    The man on the bed made a low groaning sound.

    “Damn, I’m burning up tonight. I’ll get some water.”

    Chen Qingyan groaned and hesitated, refusing to get up.

    “How can you drink if you don’t get up? You’ll make the bedding wet.”

    Yet Chen Qingyan still refused. Wang Ying then realized something was seriously wrong. The man on the bed looked like he had just been pulled out of water—his entire body soaked with sweat, his face unusually flushed red, and he was rambling nonsense.

    “Chen Qingyan, wake up! Wake up!”

    There was no response. Wang Ying scared, ran outside calling, “Chen Bo, Chen Bo!”

    Soon, a light appeared in the side room. Chen Bo came out wearing a robe. “What’s wrong with the young master?”

    “Qingyan seems to have a high fever. Hurry and get the doctor to come!”

    “Alright!” Chen Bo hurried outside.

    The quietness in the backyard carried to the main courtyard, waking Madam Li. She sat up; the new maid had been here for only a few hours.

    “Madam, it just passed midnight.”

    Madam Li pursed her lips, secretly smiling. “These two kids sure can cause trouble—still not sleeping at this hour.”

    After a while, strange noises could be heard—someone calling for the doctor. Madam Li grew uneasy. “Xiaoyue, go check the backyard.”

    The maid dressed and took a lantern, walking toward the backyard. At the door, she saw the young master’s room brightly lit and heard the doctor’s urgent shouts.

    “Young master, what happened?”

    “Qingyan has a high fever, he fainted!”

    “Ah!” Xiaoyue was frightened and quickly went to inform Madam Li, who hurried over wrapped in a cloak.

    “What’s going on?”

    “I don’t know. He was fine before sleeping, but woke up in the middle of the night like this.”

    At this point, Chen Qingyan had completely lost consciousness. No matter how much they called, he wouldn’t wake. Occasionally, his legs twitched. Wang Ying knew some fever-reduction methods and dampened cloths to place on his forehead, wiping his neck and armpits to reduce his temperature.

    “How did this happen? How could this happen?” Madam Li spun around anxiously, tears in her eyes. Her son’s health had just recovered, yet now he was suddenly so ill.

    Time passed little by little but Chen Qingyan showed no sign of improvement. For the first time, Wang Ying hated that ancient times had no hospitals, and one could only care for the sick at home.

    After more than half an hour, Chen Bo finally brought the doctor. The doctor was used to coming to the Chen household and immediately went to Chen Qingyan’s bedside.

    After checking his pulse, the doctor frowned. “When did the fever start?”

    “I’m not sure, but before sleeping he mentioned feeling hot. He took a bath. I felt he was restless. He woke up in thirst during the night and that’s when I noticed the high fever.”

    The doctor inquired, “What did he eat?”

    “The hot pot, meat stewed with radish.”

    Madam Li suddenly understood, “Yes, yes!”

    “Nonsense! How could a body in good condition eat such things? When weak, the body cannot handle tonics like this. It’s blocking the essence and blood.”

    Madam Li began to sob bitterly. She didn’t understand these matters at all. If she had known this food was forbidden, she would never have given it to her son.

    Wang Ying anxiously asked, “So what should we do now?”

    “Have the two of you… been intimate?”

    “Yes, yes.”

    The doctor looked at him and said, “The ritual of Zhou Gong.”¹

    Wang Ying blushed. “No, no, I went to bed early today…”

    “No wonder. Without moving the essence and blood, body temperature naturally can’t come down. Help him relieve a few times — sweating will lower the fever.”

    “Is there no other cure?”

    “Putting him in cold water for fifteen minutes is an option. Can his body handle it?”

    “Alright…”

    “I’ll also prescribe something to boost his qi. Tomorrow get the medicine and boil it. Above all, do not eat that kind of food again.”

    “Understood. Thank you for coming this late.” Wang Ying took out money and handed it to him, not letting the doctor come all this way for nothing—otherwise, next time he might not come again.

    Chen Bo sent the doctor off. Madam Li looked at her son and son-in-law with apology. What was meant to be a good matter had ended badly. What upset her more was that her son and son-in-law seemed to have a poor relationship.

    “Ying’er…”

    “Mother, go first. Qingyan is in my care.”

    Madam Li nodded and said nothing more, turning to leave.

    Only the two of them remained inside. The man on the bed was still unconscious. Wang Ying sighed, blew out the candle, and got into bed.

    “Let me make it clear, I’m not taking advantage—I’m helping treat illness.”

    No answer from the man on the bed.

    “Well, silence means consent.”

    In his previous life, Wang Ying was a skilled man. Of course, he knew some intimate arts — not only knew, but was quite good at it.

    But it was his first time doing it for someone else, and he felt quite embarrassed.

    He forced himself and probed. The moment his hand touched Chen Qingyan’s skin, the searing heat made him recoil.

    He spent a good deal of time preparing, assuring himself he was helping with the treatment, nothing improper! He tried again and, holding on, couldn’t help but curse.

    You wouldn’t think it—this guy always seemed weak and fragile, but he was hiding a lot!

    After a few tries, the man on the bed made a muffled groan, seeming to respond.

    He kept at it. Chen Qingyan’s breathing suddenly grew heavier, and he called out Wang Ying’s name.

    “Ah Ying…”

    Wang Ying blushed but replied, “I’m here.”

    “I feel so bad…”

    “Won’t be for long.”

    His rhythm quickened. Chen Qingyan tensed all over, but within the time it takes to burn an incense stick, it was over.

    Wang Ying breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn’t as severe as he feared. Compared to him, Chen Qingyan was far weaker.

    Yet after just a short while, the other man was lively again, mumbling, “Ah Ying, Ah Ying…”

    Wang Ying resigned himself to it and held on again, slower this time. After a small incense stick’s time, Chen Qingyan was still alert and spirited.

    He simply changed position, sat on Chen Qingyan’s lap, and applied both hands skillfully.

    “Wang Ying…”

    “Stop calling my name, alright? Damn, you’re making me hard just by calling it.”

    Chen Qingyan closed his eyes, seemingly still not realizing the situation. His vulnerable parts were being handled, the deadly pleasure making his vision darken.

    It was his first time experiencing such intimacy, and with someone he liked no less. The excitement made him tremble all over, and soon he released a low roar.

    Wang Ying quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe him clean. Both lay on the bed, drenched in sweat.

    “Ah Ying.”

    “Awake?”

    “Mm… what’s going on?”

    “Mother cooked deer meat last night. That stuff boosts virility, but your body was weak and couldn’t handle the tonic, causing the high fever. The doctor asked me to help clear the internal heat.”

    “No wonder…” Chen Qingyan’s face was slightly red.

    “How do you feel now? Still uncomfortable?”

    “Much better.”

    Wang Ying rubbed his forehead, still a little hot.

    Chen Qingyan shyly turned his head away.

    “Don’t dodge. I’ve touched you in other places before. The doctor said several rounds are needed or your body won’t hold out. Since you’re awake, do it yourself.”

    “I don’t know how…”

    “Is it hard? Just hold this with both hands and do it.”

    “Gege, teach me.”

    “Damn…” Hearing himself called ‘Gege’ felt like pins and needles on Wang Ying’s skin. For some reason, he stretched out his hand.

    Unlike last time, this time the other man was fully conscious. After a few tries, Wang Ying awkwardly withdrew. “You do it yourself—it’s tiring…”

    But Chen Qingyan pressed his hands down, guiding them up and down.

    Their bodies drew closer and closer. Chen Qingyan rested his chin on Wang Ying’s shoulder, his heavy, heated breathing spraying near Wang Ying’s ear.

    Wang Ying’s breath caught; he felt his heart leap into his throat.

    “Gege, hurry up…” The hoarse voice made half his body tingle. Wang Ying gave in and turned to hug him.

    The kiss seemed to happen naturally.

    Burning lips pressed together, Wang Ying slightly parted his mouth to take in Chen Qingyan’s lower lip. Chen Qingyan instinctively probed his tongue, licking the upper lip.

    Lips and tongues parted briefly, then pressed tighter together again. The air was filled with moist sounds of saliva.

    (Harmonized)

    The next morning, Chen Qingyan opened his eyes feeling as if he had been beaten. His whole body ached.

    The person beside him was already up, clothes changed; only the strong musk fragrance in the room testified how wild the night had been.

    Chen Qingyan touched his lips and couldn’t help but smile.

    notes:

    1. Zhou Gong’s ritual (周公之礼) — a traditional reference to ancient Chinese rites relating to sexual activity, linking intimacy with the movement of “jing” (essence) and “xue” (blood) for health benefits in traditional medicine theories. 
    2. The term “Harmonized (河蟹)” here is a euphemism meaning the original text’s explicit content has been censored or cleaned (a pun on the Chinese homophone for “harmonize”). 

     

    Note