Drunk on Madness - Chapter 22

Before the arrival of the twentieth year of Yongping in Zhongjin, the ailing Emperor, who had been struggling on his sickbed, failed to survive the year. With his eyes closed, he passed away.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the Fifth Prince ascended the throne, proclaiming the new era as Zhenyuan. He issued an imperial decree summoning Prince Yan, Zhou Chengyan, back to the capital to pay respects to the late Emperor and escort the coffin to the imperial mausoleum.

On the fifteenth day of the first month of Zhenyuan, Prince Yan was ambushed and assassinated on his way back to the capital. After three days of weeping over his coffin, his wife and daughter collapsed into unconsciousness.

In an instant, the vast Prince Yan’s estate was left without a leader. The legitimate son, Zhou Mingxuan, was missing, and the young legitimate daughter was too immature to take charge. Moved by Prince Yan’s contributions to Zhongjin, the new Emperor dispatched his uncle, Prince Mingbei Zhou Yanqing, to oversee the funeral arrangements.

…

Second month of Zhenyuan.

The lingering chill of early spring remained bone-piercingly cold.

The Prince Yan’s estate was filled with wails of grief, draped in black and yellow mourning banners adorned with white flowers, solemn and austere.

At the sight, Princess Zhao burst into tears once more. An elderly man in dark brocade robes approached and comforted her, “Niece-in-law, do not weep.”

Princess Zhao offered a slight bow. “This scene is too sorrowful to bear.” She quickly wiped her tears and recalled urgent matters. “Uncle, my son Mingxuan has been missing for a month now. While Chengyan was alive, he intended to return to the capital to investigate personally. Yet before I could even see him again, his spirit had departed to the underworld.”

Suddenly, she knelt and continued, “As a woman, I am at a loss. Could Your Highness assist the Yan Prince’s residence and us, the widowed and orphaned?”

Prince Mingbei Zhou Yanqing’s eyes brimmed with compassion. “Mingxuan was my student, and his disappearance troubles me deeply. Rest assured, I will look into this matter. But you must take care of your health. Qingyi is still young and needs your care. Preserve your strength and await the right moment.” As he spoke, his gaze drifted toward Zhou Qingyi in the distance.

Following his line of sight, Princess Zhao saw her young daughter Qingyi, clad in mourning attire, kneeling obediently on the ground and burning spirit money.

Her eyes reddened, but her expression remained composed. “Your Highness need not worry. Until I see Mingxuan again, I dare not let anything happen to myself.”

Here in Wutong Village, Li Xiang and Zhou Mingxuan had already stayed for over a month. Fortunately, on that day in the mountains, they had encountered Zhu Dafu, a hunter from the village, who carried the injured Zhou Mingxuan back.

Under the care of the village physician, the wound on his leg gradually healed, yet for some unknown reason, Zhou Mingxuan could not stand.

As time passed, Li Xiang felt it improper to impose on Zhu Dafu’s family any longer. Using a hairpin as payment, she rented a small tiled house next door and slowly nursed Zhou Mingxuan’s wounds.

As usual, Li Xiang brought a basin of hot water, soaked a cloth, and gently pressed it against Zhou Mingxuan’s leg. The freshly soaked cloth was scalding, so she blew on it a few times.

Watching her movements, Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes were hollow, his expression numb. He felt nothing.

Li Xiang glanced at him, leaning against the bed with vacant eyes, and tried to console him. “Young Master, the village’s medical skills are rudimentary. If they couldn’t heal you, don’t lose heart. We’ll go to the town next. If the town fails, we’ll head to the capital. There will be a way.” As she spoke, she massaged his acupoints.

“Later, I’ll go to town with Sister Zhu to fetch a physician. I’ll also inquire about news from the capital. Wait here for my return.” After removing the now-cooled cloth and placing it back in the basin, she closed the door and left.

Zhou Mingxuan raised his eyes to gaze at the plane tree outside the window, its withered yellow leaves trembling on the verge of falling. The sunlight shifted bit by bit, from sunrise to sunset, until the golden hues of dusk painted the sky, heralding yet another day’s end.

Watching the slanting shadows of the setting sun in the courtyard, Zhou Mingxuan could no longer remember how long he had been living like this. From initial indifference to now being unable to stand or walk, he saw no hope ahead. What terrified him most was the thought of spending the rest of his life bedridden like a useless cripple.

Footsteps sounded outside the door, and Zhou Mingxuan knew it was Li Xiang returning. A flicker of hope rose in his eyes as he turned toward the entrance.

Before long, Li Xiang set down the items in her hands and ushered in an elderly man.

She stepped forward to help Zhou Mingxuan sit up. Without a word, the old man placed his medical box beside him and began examining Zhou Mingxuan. After a thorough assessment, he took out several silver needles and said, “I’ll try acupuncture now. If there’s any reaction, it means there’s still hope.”

Li Xiang nodded, unconsciously gripping Zhou Mingxuan’s arm.

As the needles pierced his firm thighs, beads of sweat formed on Zhou Mingxuan’s forehead. Li Xiang gently wiped them away with a handkerchief and asked softly, “Can you feel anything?”

Zhou Mingxuan clutched his tense thigh with one hand and grasped Li Xiang’s fingers with the other, his lips dry as he murmured, “Yes.” It was the first word he had spoken in days, though brief.

Joy danced in Li Xiang’s eyes. “That’s wonderful!”

The old man, observing their happiness, couldn’t help but voice his concern. “Sensation means there’s still a chance, but the treatment will take time, and the cost won’t be small.”

He studied the couple, clearly not wealthy, with the woman managing the household and no steady income. He feared they might eventually give up due to the expense.

Li Xiang’s lips curled into an irrepressible smile. “Don’t worry, Physician Fan. As long as my husband’s legs can be healed, nothing else matters.”

Reassured, Physician Fan nodded. Persistence was key, he only worried they might abandon the treatment midway once the costs became burdensome.

After settling the consultation fee, Li Xiang and Physician Fan agreed on acupuncture sessions every three days. He left behind some medicinal ointments, instructing her on their application, and shared additional caregiving tips before departing.

Once Physician Fan had left, Li Xiang quickly prepared dinner for them both. With hope now kindled for Zhou Mingxuan’s recovery, their spirits lifted, and even the evening meal tasted better.

Zhou Mingxuan picked up a piece of lean meat and placed it in Li Xiang’s bowl. “You’ve worked hard these past days.”

A faint surprise flickered in Li Xiang’s eyes before she mustered the courage to speak. “To be honest, seeing you lying there, lifeless… I was so afraid. Su Mo and Gu Ci gave their lives to buy us a chance. If anything happened to you, I-” Before she could finish, a tear rolled down her cheek.

Zhou Mingxuan frowned, his striking peach-blossom eyes shadowed with guilt. These past days, he had refused food multiple times in despair over his injury. Wallowing in misery, he hadn’t realized she had been just as terrified, yet she had tended to him tirelessly, offering comfort and encouragement without complaint.

Wiping her tears, she continued, “Promise me that no matter how difficult things get, you’ll never give up. Especially not on your life. If we haven’t given up on you, how can you?”

Although Physician Fan had given them hope regarding the leg injury today, before seeing him off, the doctor bluntly stated that the damage was too severe, even if healed in the future, he would still be left with a limp. Seeing him so dispirited and listless these past few days, if he were to learn about the matter concerning the Prince of Yan, it might be too much for him to bear.

His expression froze, and he fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll do my best.”

Hearing this, Li Xiang didn’t press further. She hadn’t expected him to agree outright so quickly. They’d just have to adapt as the situation unfolded.

After dinner, Li Xiang cleared the dishes and fetched several buckets of cold water from the well in the courtyard. She mixed it with hot water, adjusting the temperature just right.

With great effort, she helped Zhou Mingxuan sit on the stool beside the bathtub, then began undressing him piece by piece.

In the past, whenever he bathed, Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes had been hollow and lifeless, like stagnant water without a ripple. But today, a hint of embarrassment finally surfaced as he said, “I can do it myself.”

Li Xiang seemed to ignore his words and continued with her task. When life and death hung in the balance, all formalities became trivial. Over the past half-month of tending to him so intimately, she hadn’t felt the slightest awkwardness. As long as he could regain his spirit, nothing else mattered.

She draped his robe over a nearby rack, then supported him as he slowly stepped into the tub. The warm water enveloped his body instantly, and he closed his eyes, letting himself sink into its soothing embrace.

A section of his robust chest emerged from the water, his honey-toned skin marked with clear, firm lines, exuding a blend of strength and allure.

Li Xiang gathered his hair, wetting it before applying some cleansing beans. Her fingers combed through his locks, gently massaging his scalp.

Next, she took a specially scented soap and lathered his skin, using a cloth to wash his broad, solid back and the well-defined ridges of his abdomen. When she reached lower, she paused before handing the cloth to Zhou Mingxuan.

He took it, his long lashes veiling the disappointment in his eyes. Truthfully, he had rather enjoyed her bathing him.

Li Xiang emptied the tub and refilled it with fresh water, taking the opportunity to bathe herself. Zhou Mingxuan used a dry cloth to wring out his hair, his gaze fixed on the silhouette cast upon the folding screen.

Her shadow flickered faintly behind the screen, its outline delicate yet distinct. She stretched, her figure graceful and curvaceous, full and alluring.

Li Xiang reclined in the tub, her back resting against its edge, breathing softly as she savored this rare moment of relaxation.

Once she finished, she laid out a makeshift bed on the floor as usual, hugging the blankets as she prepared to sleep. But Zhou Mingxuan spoke up: “Why don’t you come up here? The floor is too damp.”

Li Xiang shrugged. “It’s fine. It’s much better than sleeping in a cave before.”

Zhou Mingxuan’s eyes flickered. “Either you sleep on the bed with me, or I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Li Xiang refused. “You’re still recovering. You shouldn’t sleep on the floor. And it wouldn’t be proper for us to share a bed.”

His pupils instantly darkened with coldness. “After all this, you’re still thinking about Su Mo?” Watching her shadow, he finally shattered the fragile balance between them.

A flicker of confusion crossed Li Xiang’s eyes. She didn’t understand why he was angry and remained stunned for a moment before speaking. “Why shouldn’t I think about him?”

His expression stiffened again, and he fell silent. Li Xiang asked in disbelief, “Are you saying that because I’ve been caring for you so closely these past days, I can’t be with him anymore?”

Li Xiang frowned slightly and said, “In this situation, Su Mo would understand. And if it weren’t for me taking care of you, how could you say such a thing? You’re repaying kindness with ingratitude.”

Zhou Mingxuan concealed the dimness in his eyes. “Have you forgotten that day in the woods when I examined you with my hands?”

Her breath hitched, and she opened her mouth, only replying after a long pause, “You insisted! you insisted on examining me. I already said there was nothing.” During this time, preoccupied with her leg injury, Li Xiang had long forgotten such an awkward moment.

Zhou Mingxuan, seeing her flustered expression, continued, “In that situation, how was I to know if you were lying to me?”

A trace of resentment flickered in Li Xiang’s eyes. How could she lie about something like that? Even if there had been anything, it had nothing to do with him. What right did he have to examine her body?

Zhou Mingxuan’s gaze wavered. “Since you believe Su Mo can understand everything that’s happened between us, why should you be afraid of sleeping on the bed now?”

In the dim light, Zhou Mingxuan couldn’t make out her expression and went on, “I’m a patient who needs constant care. If you fall ill too, we could both die here, and no one would even know.”

Li Xiang said nothing more, her deep gaze resting on him. After a while, she gathered the bedding from the floor, placed it on the bed, blew out the nearby lamp, and lay down to sleep.

Listening to her steady breathing, Zhou Mingxuan thought to himself that it had turned out just as he expected. Even after multiple intimate encounters, she still hadn’t considered him. But there was plenty of time, after all, the one lying beside her now was him.