CHAPTER 31: THE MIDNIGHT CURE

"Yes, understood." Though still suspicious, Mo Yi didn’t dare question him further and went to gather everything immediately.

In a surprisingly short time, everything was prepared.

Yue Mingxuan couldn’t help but feel impressed by Shang Qinghua’s power.

Most of the items were ordinary, but dragon’s blood resin was rare. It was so rare that even the royal palace might not have any. Yet it had been found so quickly. That could only mean one thing: the prince’s influence was truly immense.

Clearly, there was no way he had prepared for this in advance and no one could’ve predicted the need for such a rare ingredient.

When everything was finally ready, Yue Mingxuan turned toward the prince and signaled that they could begin.

Shang Qinghua rose from his chair and walked forward at an unhurried pace.

Yue Mingxuan immediately followed while careful not to anger this dangerously unpredictable man.

"Wait outside," Shang Qinghua said as he stepped into the room.

Then bam!

H shut the door behind him.

If Yue Mingxuan hadn’t moved fast enough, his face might’ve been caught in the doorframe.

He stood there for a moment, staring at the tightly closed doors and taking two deep breaths to calm his rising irritation.

He reminded himself again and again, He’s a prince, high above all others.

And I... I’m just an ant before him. If he wants me to live, I live. If he wants me to die, I die.

Compared to that, what was this small humiliation? If the prince wanted him to help with his bath, he’d just have to obey.

Suddenly, a deep and magnetic voice came from inside the room. "Come in."

...Damn it! He jinxed himself!

Cursing his own bad luck, Yue Mingxuan gritted his teeth and pushed the door open.

Inside, the steam rose from the large wooden bath.

Shang Qinghua was sitting inside, his entire body submerged except for his perfectly sculpted shoulders and neck.

His narrow eyes were closed, his expression calm.

The soft light reflected off his wet skin, creating a dangerous allure that could drive anyone mad.

While lowering his head, Yue Mingxuan stepped forward.

His hands pressed gently on Shang Qinghua’s firm and well shaped muscles, and he began the first stage of the treatment.

First came the medicated bath, to relax the body.

Then the acupuncture, to steady the flow of inner poison.

Finally, the fire therapy, to drive the toxins out.

It looked simple, but in truth, it was an extremely complex detoxification process.

After working busily through the whole night, Yue Mingxuan was completely drenched in sweat.

He sat at the edge of the bed while panting softly to catch his breath.

Without meaning to, his eyes drifted toward the man lying face down on the bed.

Shang Qinghua’s back was strong and perfectly proportioned, his muscles smooth and solid, forming a perfect triangle shape that outlined the beauty of a man’s physique.

The feeling beneath his hands earlier that was smooth and firm was shockingly soft, even more delicate than a woman’s skin.

The memory of it made Yue Mingxuan’s face flush red.

He quickly forced himself to focus again and looked at Shang Qinghua, who was still sound asleep, even breathing lightly with a faint snore.

He looked so tired.

The handsome face that was once filled with a cold and wicked charm now showed a rare trace of fatigue.

That exhaustion softened his features, giving the dangerous prince a fragile side that can stirred a sense of pity.

Yue Mingxuan knew he was in a dangerous position.

He had no family, no power, and no one in the palace truly wished him well.

And now, he had somehow gotten involved with this man, the one who appeared calm but was dangerous beneath the surface.

He didn’t know if it was a blessing or a curse.

He only hoped to heal Shang Qinghua’s poison as quickly as possible, cut all ties with him and then plan out how to survive in this ancient world.

After all, he had no wish to stay in the imperial palace.

If he remained, he would either end up as a tool for the royals or be sent away like an object.

However, now was not the right time to leave.

Even if he didn’t care for himself, he had to think of the people of Dongyue Kingdom.

If he disappeared suddenly, it could lead to a war between the two nations.

The thought of innocent lives being displaced and destroyed made his heart heavy.

That was something he never wanted to see.

He had to find a way to leave without causing suspicion between the two countries.

Only then could he truly be free.

Shang Qinghua still slept deeply, showing no sign of defense, even with a stranger standing beside him.

Yue Mingxuan couldn’t tell if that was because the prince truly trusted him or because he was so confident that even if Yue Mingxuan tried something, he’d never succeed.

With that thought, Yue Mingxuan kept working.

He used a towel to gently pat out the small flames burning along Shang Qinghua’s back extinguishing them in an instant.

Then he removed the two layers of towels and began to softly press and knead his broad back.

When he felt it was enough, he carefully pulled the blanket up to cover him.

Stretching his sore back, Yue Mingxuan wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

Then, after quietly cleaning up the tools, he tiptoed out of the room.

Outside the door, Mo Yi was still standing guard.

When he saw Yue Mingxuan come out, his tone carried a hint of nervousness. "How is His Highness?"

"He’s asleep," Yue Mingxuan said, glancing at the man’s face. "You’ve been standing here all night?"

"Protecting the prince is my duty," Mo Yi replied, giving an official sounding excuse.

Yue Mingxuan smiled faintly. "You’re really loyal. Afraid I might harm your prince, aren’t you? Don’t worry. Even if I had a hundred times the courage, I wouldn’t dare to touch him."