The Western Regions' secret medicine was indeed well-deserved of its reputation. They had already witnessed the potency of hallucinogens when they framed the two princes back then, and they never expected that the effects of this aphrodisiac would be even more potent.
Huo Qixiao accidentally opened the medicine bottle, and a rich aroma immediately spread out. The few people in the tent were not prepared and inhaled the aphrodisiac into their bodies with each breath.
Fortunately, Wang Bingchang reacted quickly enough. When Huo Qixiao was about to fall and drop the medicine bottle, he swiftly snatched it away, then reinserted the cork, preventing the medicine from continuing to volatilize.
If Wang Bingchang had been a moment slower and let Huo Qixiao smash the medicine bottle, scattering all the medicine inside, the three of them would most likely have been poisoned to death by the large dose of powder.
Even though the inhalation time was short and the dosage was not large, Huo Qixiao's head began to feel dizzy after a while. Subsequently, his entire body started to go numb, and even his vision was obstructed, making the scene before him hazy.
Wang Bingchang had the deepest cultivation among the three. If it were ordinary powder, with his strong internal energy, he should have been able to control the shallowly inhaled dosage for a short period.
However, in order to prevent the medicine from continuing to spread in the air, he reached out and grabbed the medicine bottle to cap it. This meant he was in contact with the medicine for a longer time than the other two. Therefore, not long after being affected, Wang Bingchang also began to lose control.
If the two men couldn't resist the effects of the medicine, let alone Su Ling'er, who was a woman. Her physical condition was inherently inferior to theirs, and facing such potent medicine, her small frame had even less resistance.
Su Ling'er felt her body begin to sweat, feeling as if she were on fire. Besides the heat, she also felt extremely itchy, as if many small insects were crawling all over her, leaving several bloody marks with a light scratch.
Judging by Su Ling'er's appearance, it was clear she could no longer control the effects of the medicine. Wang Bingchang turned to look at Huo Qixiao and saw that his entire face had turned red, and the situation was also dire.
What worried Wang Bingchang the most, however, were the gazes exchanged between Huo Qixiao and Su Ling'er. If the two were not separated soon, something serious would happen!
Wang Bingchang, enduring his own discomfort, quickly ran to Su Ling'er's side and shoved her out of the tent.
"Tie her to the stake and gag her mouth. Remember, keep a close eye on her! If she dies, you two will be buried with her!"
Before entering the tent, Wang Bingchang endured his discomfort and added another instruction. "You two guard the entrance. Before my young master and I come out, no matter what sounds you hear, you are not allowed to approach the tent. No one! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"
After throwing Su Ling'er out of the tent, Wang Bingchang quickly gave instructions to the two guards at the door before turning back into the tent.
As Huo Qixiao was feeling dizzy, he suddenly saw a flickering figure in front of him, slowly approaching...
The temperature inside the tent kept rising. Outside the tent, Su Ling'er, tied to the stake, was in a pitiful state that was hard to look at!
Her hands and feet were bound, her mouth was tightly gagged with rags, and her clothes were soaked with sweat. Due to the aphrodisiac, her skin had turned completely pink.
Not only that, but this aphrodisiac was concentrated, and its fragrance emanated from her pores, making even the sweat on her body exude a seductive scent.
The two guards looked at each other and then stared at Su Ling'er. No matter how much pain she was in, they remained motionless, as if they couldn't see her.
After more than an hour, some of the medicinal effects on Su Ling'er had dissipated, but she looked completely drained. Due to severe dehydration, she fainted.
Her originally fair and pinkish skin was now bruised and battered, with no good spots on her body. She looked as if she had been severely beaten, and her situation was truly tragic!
Seeing that Su Ling'er had stopped moving, the two guards at the door finally breathed a sigh of relief. They went to sit by the tent entrance to rest, listening to the heart-pounding sounds from inside the tent while keeping an eye on the woman who was still in a coma on the stake.
In the city of Si'an Prefecture.
Huo Qiyuan and others were strolling around the temporary villa. Because the bacteria and viruses had been completely cured, and the patients were slowly recovering, everyone was in a very good mood.
Unbeknownst to them, Su Muqing had been in Si'an Prefecture for more than half a month. Su Cuiping's due date was in the next few days, and both of them were first-time parents.
To prevent regret from lingering in the hearts of her third brother Leng and sister-in-law Cuiping, Su Muqing decided to rush back to Yaoking Imperial City that evening with Leng Kui, so that her third brother could accompany Cuiping during childbirth.
Therefore, at noon, Su Muqing specifically instructed everyone to have hot pot together. She also asked Huo Qiyuan to invite others from the Leng squad.
Hot pot was naturally more lively with more people. They had been out for a long time and hadn't had a good hot pot meal in ages. Today, they could satisfy their cravings and also celebrate Leng Kui becoming a father in advance.
Leng Nuo took out a small cloth bag made of red satin from his embrace and handed it to Leng Kui beside him. "Third brother, congratulations on becoming a father. I don't know if sister-in-law is carrying a boy or a girl, so I prepared a silver lock. Take it back for my nephew/niece!"
"And me, I prepared a pair of silver bracelets..."
"Mine is a silver collar..."
"Mine is a mutton-fat jade pendant..."
Before the hot pot arrived, the others from the Leng squad eagerly took out the gifts they had prepared and handed them to the smiling Leng Kui.
They had been good brothers for over ten years and knew they were genuinely happy for him, so Leng Kui did not stand on ceremony. He accepted everyone's gifts with a smile, constantly expressing his gratitude.
Huo Qiyuan was already engaged to Su Muqing, and they gave gifts together. Their gift had already been prepared and was in the imperial palace of Yaoking City. It would be the same to send it after the child was born.
They chatted for a while longer, and then the hot pot was brought to the table. Leng Shi had chopsticks in his mouth, but his gaze couldn't help but drift towards Su Muqing, as if he had something to say.
He hesitated for a long time, stuttering, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, since you are sending third brother back to accompany third sister-in-law tonight, have you decided when you will return?"
Su Muqing looked up at Leng Shi, somewhat curious as to why he was asking this. "I probably won't be back for a while! What's wrong? Is there something you want me to bring from Yaoking?"
"No... of course not! Your Majesty has given the Prince so many good things that our supplies are very sufficient. I just feel that with so many capable ministers in the court managing state affairs, it shouldn't matter if you returned here to accompany the Prince for a bit longer." Leng Shi finished speaking and lowered his head, not daring to look at the expressions of the others.