MTLNOVEL Chapter 85: The Drug Takes Effect
Chapter 85: The Drug Takes Effect
“Young Miss!” Ning Shuang was terrified. She rushed to support Qiao Nian, tears welling up in her eyes. “Young Miss, what’s wrong with you?”
What sin did the young marquis commit to harm her young miss like this?
Qiao Nian’s entire body was shaking. This familiar feeling made her heart cold.
“It’s the drug taking effect,” she said, her voice a bit weak. In her mind, she couldn’t help but recall how she had trembled just as violently when Jing Yan held her in his arms.
She even nearly reached out to undo Jing Yan’s belt in her confused state…
Fortunately, Jing Yan had restrained her hand at the crucial moment, and after that bout of drug effects, she had finally regained her senses.
She thought she had endured the drug’s effects.
But unexpectedly, it was acting up again now!
Ning Shuang panicked a bit, “Then, then what should we do? Should I go find the manor’s doctor?”
Qiao Nian quickly shook her head.
They couldn’t call for the manor’s doctor.
Under the influence of the drug, she couldn’t control her words and actions. Although the manor’s doctor was elderly, he was still a man.
At this point, in her eyes, perhaps only that Deputy Commander Jing could remain unmoved.
Thinking of this, Qiao Nian took a deep breath before saying, “Go fetch some cold water.”
She had once heard the palace maids in the laundry talk about aphrodisiacs, saying that soaking in cold water would help.
Although she wasn’t sure if it would work, it was still better than finding a man to look at her in this state.
Ning Shuang nodded repeatedly, helping Qiao Nian lie down on the bed before hurriedly leaving the room.
Soon, the bathtub was filled with cold water.
Ning Shuang supported Qiao Nian as she sat in the bathtub.
Although it was already spring, sitting in cold water still felt bone-chillingly cold.
But fortunately, this bone-chilling cold suppressed the burning desire within her body, gradually clearing her increasingly confused mind.
She saw Ning Shuang standing nearby, looking at her with worry. Qiao Nian couldn’t help but smile, “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine once I get through this.”
Ning Shuang never expected her young miss to have the heart to comfort her at a time like this. Tears immediately fell, but she tried hard not to sob out loud to avoid worrying her young miss more.
However, Qiao Nian still heard Ning Shuang’s sniffling.
But she didn’t know how to comfort her.
Not just Ning Shuang, even she herself felt that her life was too bitter.
She hated cold water the most. After leaving the laundry, she thought she would never touch cold water again in her life.
Yet, in just a few months, she had been soaked in cold water several times.
She knew that the Lin family’s claims of treating her like their own were just lip service, and she had mentally prepared herself to cut ties with them after accompanying the Old Madam.
But…
First, they hid Prince Ming’s physical and mental disabilities from her, watching her walk to her death.
Then they resorted to such despicable acts as kidnapping and drugging her, ruining her reputation!
She couldn’t understand how they could do such things!
They were once the people she loved and trusted the most!
Thinking of this, Qiao Nian suddenly shivered.
She wasn’t sure if it was because she felt the cold after the drug’s effects were suppressed, or because her heart had grown too cold.
She had originally thought that Madam Lin had genuinely sought a good marriage for her. Even if there were benefits involved, Prince Ming could indeed be a shortcut for her to leave the marquis’s manor.
But she never expected this shortcut to nearly cost her life.
Now, he had even been captured by bandits.
She had long heard that the bandits in Yongbei were extremely rampant, with several military campaigns failing to subdue them.
She had just gained leverage over Prince Ming, ensuring he wouldn’t dare harm her in the future, but now…
Whether it was the drug’s effects clashing or something else, Qiao Nian’s mind began to grow hazy. Finally unable to resist, she fainted.
When she woke up again, it was already the next day.
She was lying in bed, already changed into clean clothes.
“Young Miss is awake!” Ning Shuang stood by the bed, looking very happy, though the dark circles under her eyes told Qiao Nian that the maid had stayed up all night watching over her.
Qiao Nian sat up, feeling weak all over.
Ning Shuang helped Qiao Nian out of bed and dressed her before saying, “Young Miss, I secretly asked the manor’s doctor. He said we need to find the person who administered the drug to know how to make an antidote. Otherwise, it might cause more harm.”
Qiao Nian frowned, “Has the young marquis returned?”
Ning Shuang shook her head, “No, he hasn’t returned since going to the palace last night.”
But Lin Ye had bought the drug. If he didn’t return to the manor, where could she go to ask about the antidote?
Without an antidote, Qiao Nian wasn’t sure if the drug’s effects would act up again.
Unexpectedly, a maid announced from outside, “Young Miss, Deputy Commander Jing requests an audience.”
Jing Yan?
At the mention of him, Qiao Nian couldn’t help but think of how she had lost control yesterday, and her cheeks unconsciously reddened.
Seeing this, Ning Shuang suddenly widened her eyes, “Young Miss, why are you blushing at the mention of Deputy Commander Jing?”
It’s not like he hasn’t been here before!
Qiao Nian was startled, giving Ning Shuang a coquettish glare, “I’m not blushing. Deputy Commander Jing saved me yesterday. Hurry and invite him in!”
Ning Shuang covered her mouth and smiled, “Yes, I’ll go right away!”
With that, she ran off.
Ning Shuang led Jing Yan into the flower hall.
When Qiao Nian arrived, Jing Yan was drinking tea.
Seeing Qiao Nian, he hurriedly stood up to bow, not even having time to swallow the tea in his mouth, “Greetings, Miss Qiao.”
Qiao Nian was startled, “Why is Deputy Commander Jing injured like this?”
Jing Yan’s eyes were bruised, his cheeks slightly swollen, and there was a large blue-purple mark at the corner of his mouth.
Jing Yan was Xiao Heng’s deputy commander. Who would dare injure him like this?
Qiao Nian was shocked, but it didn’t take long for her to understand.
It was Xiao Heng.
Her brows furrowed, and she couldn’t help but step forward to ask, “Is it because of me?”
Had Xiao Heng become angry because Jing Yan had rescued her yesterday?
Jing Yan quickly waved his hands, “No, no, no, I’m fine. It’s just a minor injury.”
He then picked up a medicine bottle nearby and handed it to Qiao Nian, “This is… the antidote for that.”
Qiao Nian was surprised. She took the medicine bottle from Jing Yan’s hand, curious about how he knew.
Jing Yan seemed to understand Qiao Nian’s thoughts and smiled sheepishly, “Yesterday, the young marquis had an argument with Pharmacist Huang at Zuixiang Pavilion. Huang’s shop is right next to Wanhua Tower, so I went to ask around. This is the antidote.”
So that’s how it was.
Qiao Nian felt grateful. Thinking about how if it weren’t for Jing Yan yesterday, she didn’t know what trouble she might have caused, her heart warmed involuntarily. She bowed, about to express her gratitude, “Thank you, Deputy Commander Jing. If not for your rescue, I’m afraid Qiao Nian wouldn’t be alive today.”
Lin Ye and Xiao Heng thought that as long as they ruined her reputation, they could have their way.
But they never considered that someone with Qiao Nian’s personality would rather die than let them have their way!
Seeing Qiao Nian about to bow, Jing Yan quickly reached out to stop her.
Unexpectedly, his hand happened to touch Qiao Nian’s hand.
As their palms touched, the memory of yesterday’s passionate moment rushed into both their minds…