Ch 40: Transmigrated to become a Koi Husband

Jing Li felt like his thoughts had been muddled by all the random things running through his mind, leading to a state of confusion.

Otherwise, how could he have heard Qin Zhao say… say…

Jing Li stared blankly at Qin Zhao, who walked back over to him and smiled. “What silly thing are you thinking about now?”

“I… you…” Jing Li stammered, belatedly feeling his ears start to burn, “You… you just said…”

Qin Zhao bent down slightly, gently tucking Jing Li’s loose hair behind his ear, and slowly said, enunciating each word, “I just said that you can take your time thinking about everything else, except for whether or not you like me.”

That was the one thing that couldn’t be delayed any longer.

Even if Qin Zhao had wavered in the past, worried about the differences in their statuses, or concerned that Jing Li was too naive to understand love, all of that had vanished after that almost-kiss the other day.

The little fish did like him.

“You understand, don’t you?” Qin Zhao gazed into those clear, beautiful eyes and softly said, “I know you understand.”

Understand what kind of feelings those are, and where that dependence and care come from.

Jing Li seemed to have completely lost the ability to think. Qin Zhao was so close, and the pleasant herbal scent on him completely overpowered the fragrance of soap on Jing Li.

He didn’t understand…

He didn’t understand why Qin Zhao suddenly said this. They had just been talking about… what were they talking about again?

The boy’s expression was dazed, and he didn’t even notice that his ears had turned completely red.

Qin Zhao gently pinched his soft earlobe and chuckled, “When you were secretly plotting something against me earlier, you didn’t look this confused.”

Plotting something…

Jing Li blinked, suddenly remembering what Qin Zhao was referring to—the time in the village when they were interrupted by Li Hongyu.

Was he awake that day?

Jing Li instinctively tried to back away, bumping into the chair’s backrest, his voice trembling with nerves. “I-I-I… I was just—”

…Just what?

Jing Li couldn’t find an answer, and Qin Zhao didn’t give him a chance to explain.

With one hand on the chair’s backrest and the other on the opposite armrest, Qin Zhao’s tall figure completely overshadowed Jing Li, trapping him in the shadows.

It was a position of absolute control.

Qin Zhao lifted Jing Li’s chin and leaned down, stopping at an almost teasingly close distance. “Is that so?”

Jing Li’s heart raced.

He could feel Qin Zhao’s warm breath against his lips, so hot it seemed like it could scorch him. But with the back of his head pressed against the hard chair, he had nowhere to escape.

“I—”

As soon as he opened his mouth, Qin Zhao kissed him.

In that instant, the wind blew the window open, and the sound of the rain outside seemed to fade into the distance.

Jing Li’s mind went blank for a moment. The sensation on his lips was warm and gentle, carefully tracing and testing against his lips.

As his thoughts slowly returned, he started to hear the pattering of the rain again, the frantic beating of his own heart, and the low, short chuckle that faded away in his ears.

“Now do you understand?” Qin Zhao released him, the hint of a smile still lingering in his eyes.

“I…” Jing Li turned his head, his voice trembling, “Why… why did you suddenly bring this up?”

“Who knows.” Qin Zhao straightened up, leaning casually against the dressing table, as if what had just happened was the most ordinary thing in the world. “Maybe it was because you were thinking too hard, so I wanted to give you something else to focus on.”

Using something like this to divert attention… how could he do that?

Jing Li’s ears burned bright red, and he remained silent. Qin Zhao didn’t explain further; instead, he picked up a comb and began brushing Jing Li’s hair.

Even after living here for so long, Jing Li still hadn’t mastered the ancient way of tying up his hair and always needed Qin Zhao’s help.

The wooden comb glided gently through his hair, and Qin Zhao’s movements were careful and gentle, not causing him any discomfort.

Jing Li quietly observed Qin Zhao through the bronze mirror.

The tingling sensation on his lips lingered, and his heart felt full, like he had just tasted a long-awaited dessert, the sweetness lingering and lasting for a long time.

Sensing something, Qin Zhao suddenly lifted his head, and their gazes met in the mirror.

Qin Zhao smiled and then lowered his head again. “Are you ready to tell me what was bothering you earlier?”

The rain hadn’t stopped, and Qin Zhao and Jing Li shared an oil-paper umbrella as they walked through the streets.

“It’s right here,” Jing Li pointed to the simple little pharmacy deep in the narrow alley.

It seemed that Qin Zhao, even before he lost his memory, had a knack for interrogation. He easily coaxed Jing Li into revealing everything about his encounter with the old man that day.

After learning the details, Qin Zhao, unusually eager, insisted that Jing Li take him to meet the old man immediately.

Perhaps due to its poor location, the pharmacy was almost deserted. The young boy they had seen earlier was sitting by the door, reading a book.

Hearing footsteps, the boy looked up and smiled. “Oh, it’s you.”

When his gaze fell on Qin Zhao, who was beside Jing Li, he shyly averted his eyes and said, “Grandpa Xue said you might come back, so he asked me to wait here.”

Qin Zhao said, “I’d like to see Elder Xue.”

The boy led them inside.

Lifting the bamboo curtain, they found the old man named Xue lying on the only lounge chair in the inner room, drowsily fanning himself.

The boy stepped forward and called softly, “Grandpa Xue?”

The old man was in a deep sleep and didn’t respond. The boy gently shook him and raised his voice, “Grandpa Xue, Mr. Jing and his husband are here!”

Qin Zhao glanced at Jing Li thoughtfully.

Jing Li: “…”

“Who… who’s here?” The old man woke up groggily, his eyes scanning the room in confusion.

Qin Zhao stepped forward, “I am Qin Zhao. Greetings, Elder Xue.”

The old man looked at Qin Zhao, then at Jing Li behind him, understanding the situation. “So this is the young gentleman’s husband?”

Jing Li’s ears turned even redder as he awkwardly replied, “Yes, I brought him here, hoping Doctor Xue could take a look at him.”

“I knew you’d be back. Have a seat,” the old man said as he sat up. The boy brought over a wrist cushion and placed it on the small table before quietly leaving the room, pulling the bamboo curtain closed behind him.

The old man said, “Stretch out your hand and let me take a look…”

Qin Zhao obediently placed his hand on the cushion. The old man glanced at his face and frowned slightly. “Have I seen you somewhere before?”

Qin Zhao’s eyes flickered, but he showed no reaction, calmly replying, “I have some memory loss and don’t recall where I might have met you.”

“Memory loss?” The old man seemed to ponder this but said nothing more, placing his fingers on Qin Zhao’s pulse.

He closed his eyes and silently took the pulse for a moment, then nodded. “Just as I thought, no wonder you didn’t dare let the doctors know your prescription. But this prescription only treats the symptoms, not the root cause. You should stop taking it.”

Qin Zhao asked, “Is there another prescription, sir?”

The old man chuckled dryly, “The entire Central Plains and even the current emperor want to know the alternative. If there were one, do you think it would have remained a secret until now?”

Qin Zhao lowered his eyes, staying silent.

The old man didn’t say anything more either, leaving Jing Li, standing behind Qin Zhao, utterly confused.

“What are you talking about?” Jing Li asked, sensing that something was off. “What… what kind of illness is this?”

Qin Zhao hesitated. “Well…”

“Your husband is so devoted to you, there’s no need to keep secrets from him,” the old man said leisurely. “Young man, I’ll tell you: your husband’s condition isn’t an illness at all; it’s because he’s been taking a certain drug.”

“…a forbidden drug that causes addiction.”

“This drug is called Chenhuan. You might be too young to know, but ten years ago, this drug was widespread in the central regions of the country,” the old man explained. “Chenhuan, when consumed, causes the blood to surge, making the entire body feel hot and restless. It can induce euphoria, and in high doses, it can even cause hallucinations, making one feel as if they are in a state of extreme bliss.”

Jing Li was stunned.

Isn’t this just another form of a drug?

Qin Zhao… Why would he have taken something like this?

Qin Zhao remained silent, his eyes downcast, while the old man smiled faintly and continued, “Taking this drug isn’t uncommon. During the years when it was widespread, the most frequent users were the wealthy and the nobility, those sons of rich families.”

Jing Li couldn’t help but feel that there was a hint of smugness in the old man’s expression as he spoke, which made Jing Li uncomfortable. He glanced at Qin Zhao, who was still looking down, his face pale.

The old man continued, “Originally, this drug merely provided temporary pleasure and wasn’t addictive. But human nature is greedy; as the dosage increased, so did the dependency. The more one took, the harder it became to stop, and the more painful the withdrawal became. During the height of Chenhuan’s popularity in the capital, it wasn’t uncommon to see people on the streets who were in a delirious state, either because they had just taken the drug or were rushing to get more.”

“During that time, countless families were ruined, and many people lost everything, their reputations destroyed.”

“Later, when the previous emperor fell gravely ill and passed away, the new emperor ascended to the throne, and the court classified this drug as a banned substance. They also introduced a detoxification formula—the very one that you, young master, have been taking.”

The old man looked at Qin Zhao and said, “But you must have realized by now that this prescription is ineffective for you.”

“Yes,” Qin Zhao replied. “According to its properties, it should take no more than half a year to detoxify from Chenhuan, but I…”

Qin Zhao had been taking the prescription for three years.

“The prescription uses the principle of fighting poison with poison. It indeed has a detoxifying effect, but it also contains toxins. Taking it for two or three months, or even half a year, is not a problem. But if you continue for three to five years…”

The old man paused and said, “Your current frailty is just the beginning. If you keep taking it, I fear the poison will attack your heart, and your life will be at risk.”

Jing Li’s fingers trembled within his sleeve.

Instinctively, he clutched Qin Zhao’s sleeve. Sensing this, Qin Zhao gently squeezed his hand.

Qin Zhao asked again, “May I ask, sir, why this prescription is ineffective for me?”

“There are only two possibilities,” the old man explained. “Either you have been taking Chenhuan for at least ten years, causing the toxin to build up in your body to the point where it cannot be eradicated. But as far as I know, no one has survived taking Chenhuan for ten years because they would have died from blood stasis long before then. That leaves only one other possibility…”

Qin Zhao asked, “What is it?”

“You once consumed an excessive amount of Chenhuan, causing the toxin to penetrate deep into your organs. Moreover, because this drug can induce hallucinations and damage the brain, your memory loss is most likely due to this.”

“It must have been a poisoning!” Jing Li exclaimed. “Someone must have given him a large dose of Chenhuan!”

The old man shrugged. “I can only explain the pharmacology. As for the rest, I have no way of knowing. But…”

He lifted one hand, pressing his thumb against his little finger: “Just this tiny bit of Chenhuan Powder is enough to make someone euphoric for three days. The damage caused by an overdose of Chenhuan Powder to the body is unimaginable, and even if one manages to quit it eventually, the body will never return to its former state. If someone really poisoned you… that person intended to ruin you.”

Thunder rumbled outside, and within the inner chamber, Qin Zhao sat calmly by the small table, a faint smile slowly curling at the corner of his lips. “I had suspected as much.”

The old man raised an eyebrow.

For some reason, he sensed a faint but frighteningly dangerous aura emanating from this frail young man before him.

But that expression vanished almost instantly as Qin Zhao raised his eyes, his demeanor remaining composed and calm. “Regardless, I only wish to know if you, sir, have a cure to completely detoxify Chenhuan?”

The old man snapped out of his thoughts and leaned back in his chair, shaking his fan lazily. “Didn’t I just say? I don’t have a cure.”

Qin Zhao replied, “If that’s the case, then why did you have my companion bring me here?”

“Sir, you saw through my prescription and deliberately hinted at its severity, did you not? You intended to lure me here.” Qin Zhao’s tone was steady. “What is it you truly want? You might as well be direct.”

The old man stared at him for a moment, then chuckled. “It’s always easier talking to someone clever.”

“I do have a formula that might possibly cure the addiction to Chenhuan.”

“Might?”

“The ingredients are hard to find, and it’s never been tested,” the old man admitted. “So, would you be willing to be the test subject?”

xxx

Qin Zhao and Jing Li walked side by side along the rain-soaked cobblestone street.

The rain grew heavier, and the street was almost deserted.

“You see, this is why I didn’t want to tell you everything,” Qin Zhao suddenly stopped and spoke softly.

Jing Li was startled, quickly saying, “Don’t… don’t misunderstand, I won’t think you’re a bad person or anything like that… I know you wouldn’t want to take it, that someone must have poisoned you, and you—”

“I’m not talking about that,” Qin Zhao interrupted, turning to face him. He reached out and gently wiped a raindrop from Jing Li’s cheek. “I just didn’t want to see you worried.”

“Since we left the pharmacy, you haven’t said a word.”

“I don’t want to see my little fish looking like this.”

“But I… but I…” Jing Li bit his lip.

Qin Zhao was right; he was indeed very worried.

After learning so much, it was impossible for him to pretend nothing had happened.

He was terrified of that addictive drug, worried about Qin Zhao’s health, and… and he was also resentful of the person who had tried to harm Qin Zhao.

With all these emotions tangled together, he couldn’t just stop thinking about it.

“It seems I’ll have to distract you,” Qin Zhao murmured as his finger traced the side of Jing Li’s face. “You still haven’t told me—what did it feel like?”

Jing Li blinked, confused. “What… what feeling?”

Qin Zhao’s finger slowly moved to Jing Li’s lips. “This.”

His fingers were warm, and Jing Li instantly understood what he meant, instinctively trying to pull back.

Qin Zhao quickly pulled him back.

“It’s raining, you fool,” Qin Zhao said, holding the umbrella in one hand and pulling Jing Li back into his arms with the other.

The movement had caused some rainwater to splash in, wetting them both.

Water droplets trickled down the contour of Qin Zhao’s face, along his pale neck, disappearing into his collar.

Outside, the rain poured down, but under the umbrella, the temperature was steadily rising.

Jing Li looked up at Qin Zhao and murmured, “I didn’t feel it.”

Qin Zhao raised an eyebrow. “Hmm?”

“That kiss just now,” Jing Li’s cheeks flushed as he spoke shyly. “It was too quick… I didn’t feel it.”

Qin Zhao chuckled softly.

“You really leave me no choice,” Qin Zhao sighed with a smile, his voice gentle. “Open your mouth.”

In the misty rain, Qin Zhao leaned down and kissed those soft lips again.

xxx

Thandar: Get a load of this dog food, dear readers 🥲