TRBDM -Chapter 117 Willingly

Dou Shuxin turned her head, avoiding Zhao Jingheng’s gaze.

She forced herself not to listen to his labored breathing. Her hands trembled, but she still quickly untied her waist sash.

The situation was urgent; there was no time for embarrassment.

Zhao Jingheng wanted her to undress, so she did.

Unfamiliar with men’s clothing, Dou Shuxin struggled a little to undo the outer robe covering Zhao Jingheng’s chest.

A broad expanse of bare chest was exposed to the cold air, and Zhao Jingheng immediately felt more comfortable.

“Take off the rest!”

Her slender, delicate fingers moved toward his waistband. The moment they touched his scorching skin, Zhao Jingheng’s abdomen tensed, a moan of unbearable pain escaping his throat.

Sexy yet agonizing, even the fiercest falcon could not resist the effects of the Hehuan Poison.

Her mischievous little hands continued relentlessly. As soon as his long pants were removed,

he couldn’t hold back. With a swift roll, he pinned Dou Shuxin beneath him.

Dou Shuxin closed her eyes, offering no resistance.

The next moment, his burning body pressed against hers, kissing her with a ferocity that left no room for hesitation.

The metallic tang of blood spread between their lips; it was impossible to tell whose blood it was.

Dou Shuxin accepted it passively—but willingly.

Suddenly, her clothes were roughly torn open, her slender shoulders trembling in the night.

After a long, fervent kiss, Zhao Jingheng’s frenzied rationality finally eased for a moment.

He propped his hands on either side of Dou Shuxin’s head and struggled to get off the bed.

“I’m sorry.”

“Fetch me a bucket of well water—quickly!”

Dou Shuxin’s heart raced as if it had jumped into her throat. She almost forgot to breathe, yet she still obeyed.

She hurriedly got out of bed, her clothes loosely hanging on her shoulders. The pale moonlight revealed her graceful figure.

Zhao Jingheng closed his eyes, resting his head against the bedframe, panting.

It was deadly.

Just now, he had almost…

He couldn’t let her be dragged into this.

Now, with the emperor’s health deteriorating day by day, even Zhao Jingheng, living in the Imperial Academy, had heard the news.

The Crown Prince and the Third Prince were clashing more openly and secretly than ever.

Zhao Jingheng, once the invisible pawn in the succession struggle, was now involuntarily drawn into the fray.

Zhao Jingyan’s eyes tolerated no opposition.

Once he toppled the Crown Prince, the next target would be all the princes.

Several princes had already joined the Third Prince’s faction, pledging loyalty while refusing to contest the throne.

The rest were either Crown Prince loyalists or remained neutral.

Zhao Jingheng remained neutral.

But the Third Prince’s ambition could not tolerate neutrality.

Even though Zhao Jingheng had taken refuge in the Imperial Academy, the Third Prince could still administer poison and send women into his quarters. It was clear that one could escape temporarily, but never permanently.

Now, Zhao Jingheng lacked even the ability to protect himself. He could not offer Dou Shuxin any promises.

She willingly sacrificed herself, offering everything without reservation—how could Zhao Jingheng accept it with a clear conscience?

With the imperial succession in flux, whether he would survive was still uncertain.

Dou Shuxin was the legitimate daughter of a ministerial family and a model noblewoman of the capital. She could marry into a good family and live a stable life.

Therefore, Zhao Jingheng deliberately forced himself to act harshly, trying to push her away.

But this foolish girl refused to leave.

Hiding in the dark alley, isolating himself from the world, Zhao Jingheng had never imagined that someone would break through the darkness and run toward him without hesitation.

The sound of water splashing echoed through the courtyard. Zhao Jingheng’s reason was almost gone, yet he still worried: her hands were soft and delicate—could she carry a bucket of water?

Would the well rope cut into her palms?

Would it hurt her?

Zhao Jingheng drew his dagger and cut his own arm. As the blood flowed, the pain brought him back a fraction of rationality.

He staggered outside, snatched the well rope from Dou Shuxin’s hands, and helped her fill the remaining bucket.

Then, wearing only his inner robe, Zhao Jingheng jumped into the bucket.

The icy well water pierced him to the bone, finally allowing the burning Zhao Jingheng to sigh in relief.

However, the effect lasted only briefly; the heat surged back up, warming even the well water.

Dou Shuxin knew this method could only delay the inevitable.

She wanted to go find a doctor.

“Your Highness, I’ll go find a doctor—”

“Don’t.” Zhao Jingheng interrupted her sharply.

In the dead of night, a man and woman alone together would compromise Dou Shuxin’s reputation.

He couldn’t guarantee that the doctor would keep silent—unless he silenced him permanently.

“But… you won’t be able to make it through,” Dou Shuxin said anxiously, sweat breaking out across her body.

“Don’t you know acupuncture? Do you have silver needles at home?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Listen to me. Use the silver needles to pierce the Yongquan and Hegu acupoints, then take a silver hairpin, dip it in strong liquor, and scrape along the back of your neck. If it can draw out the heat toxin, I’ll be able to hold on until tomorrow. By then, I can go find a proper doctor myself.”

The only method Zhao Jingheng could think of was to reduce the potency of the Hehuan-induced poison. How long it would last, even he wasn’t sure.

Dou Shuxin rushed into the room, took out the slender silver needles, and, following Zhao Jingheng’s instructions, pierced the respective acupoints.

The toxic blood released, and it worked.

The raging fire inside Zhao Jingheng’s body finally subsided a little.

“Dou Shuxin.” His eyes were bloodshot.

“Mm…”

“Go now.”

“No, I can’t leave.”

Zhao Jingheng looked at her scattered black hair and disheveled clothes and averted his gaze.

“The person just now by your side… was that your sister?”

Only when he mentioned it did Dou Shuxin suddenly remember—her sister was still waiting for her at the noodle shop.

She hadn’t returned in so long; she must be worried sick.

“Put on your clothes properly, fix your hair, and go to your sister. Let her be reassured.”

“But, Your Highness, you…”

“I’m fine. Go quickly.”

Dou Shuxin hesitated, but time forced her to make a choice immediately.

She cupped a handful of cool water, washed her face clean, and loosely twisted her messy hair into a bun.

Flustered, she hastily put her scattered clothes back on.

“Your Highness, I’ll go find my sister first. I’ll be back soon. Don’t leave—I really will be back quickly.”

She hurried to the door, glanced at Zhao Jingheng one last time, and carefully closed it behind her.

No sooner had the lock clicked than the suppressed heat surged back fiercely.

Zhao Jingheng’s limbs were weak; he leaned against the side of the water bucket, his face twisted in pain.

Leaves rustled, and two black figures leapt into the courtyard.

“Who’s there?”

The two approached from the shadows, swords at their waists, their movements precise.

Just like the armed palace guards.

Men from the Third Prince had caught up!

Zhao Jingheng’s dagger was still at the foot of the bed; he didn’t even have a chance to strike.

At that moment, he looked like a lamb awaiting slaughter. Could it be that he was really about to become a pawn of Zhao Jingyan?

The two guards came closer.

“Your Highness.”

Their voices were low. “Please come with us.”

“Where?”

“To the Princess’s Residence.”

Zhao Jingheng’s pupils shifted. They were people of the Eldest Princess.

A tight knot in his chest loosened slightly. He replied, “I can see my eldest sister, but I’m poisoned by the Hehuan formula right now. Does the Princess’s Residence have a doctor to treat it?”

The two guards exchanged a glance.

“Come with us to the Princess’s Residence. Once you see the Eldest Princess, she will decide what to do.”

“Alright, I’ll go with you.”

He nearly forgot: when it came to neutrality, no one was more impartial than the Eldest Princess Zhao Lingchen.

Even the powerful Zhao Jingyan wouldn’t dare provoke her.

Thus, the Princess’s Residence was the safest place.

Zhao Jingheng climbed out of the water bucket, donned his robes, and, before leaving, cast a glance at the bedroom where he had just been lying.

It was there that he had stolen Dou Shuxin’s first kiss.