TCN: Mei Gongqing

Chapter 119: Drugged

Chapter 119: Drugged

The jade cup was finely made. A celestial crane was carved onto its round body with the crane's beak forming the vessel's rim.

The liquid inside was a most beautiful emerald in color.

Chen Rong had never seen such an extraordinary and precious item. She received it, gave a gentle shake, and smilingly said, "Iam tempted to try."

She brought it to her lips and took a sip.

It was bitter at first before a cool sensation took over. "It's pretty good," she smiled and took another sip.

Seeing that she liked the drink, the servant girl gave a curtsy and slowly retreated from the room.

She went downstairs to Ah Zhi and covered her smile to say: "She drank it."

Ah Zhi nodded. "She was following Shi Min around without any prior betrothal. Who knows if she has been passed around as men's concubine or not. If I really think about it, our Qilang is getting shortchanged." The words 'Shi Min' were carelessly mentioned with a deep despisal, both in the surname she referred to and in the tone she used.

The younger maid nodded in agreement. At the time she brought Chen Rong an aphrodisiac drink only a brothel would have, both she and Ah Zhi had had a look of disapproval. It was as if touching Ran Min's person without his consent was an inconsequential matter... The fact is that such things were indeed inconsequential in Jiankang. The literati had always perceived beauty in abandonment. If a friend touched their concubines without so much as a declaration, they would merely smile and, if they were broad-minded, might even gift dowry and wine for the occasion. These maidservants had spent many years with the Wang family in Lang'ya. For them, it was a favor their master was bestowing upon someone if he was willing to touch his concubine.

Of course, there had also been those who did not have a grasp on the situation. , who was infatuated with Lu Zhu, did not give in to other men's requests. Instead, he refused them with stern words. His refusal was no doubt a slap across those men's faces. For that reason, in the end, the richest man of the Jin court was robbed of his wealth and killed. His beloved concubine Lu Zhu had jumped to her death.

After talking for a while, the younger maidservant retired and walked towards Chen Rong's loft. The older one named Ah Zhi held a tray to Wang Hong's courtyard.

She soon arrived. Listening to the leisurely music wafting from inside, she asked a guard, "Is his lordship well?"

"He is with Huan Jiulang."

Ah Zhi stepped forward, bowed with the wooden tray held high and respectfully announced, "This is the Five Stone Powder brought from Jiankang, would our guest like to try some?"

The guard nodded, retreated, and gestured his hand. "Go in."

In the bamboo house, the white-robed Wang Hong was playing his zither. Nearby, Huan Jiulang lay on the divan as he looked ahead in a trance.

Ah Zhi went to them. She put the tray down to curtsy, and then took a step back and softly said, "M'lord, Jiulang, in the face of the enemy, and when life and death is but a blink of an eye away, why not have a taste of the gods' blissful emptiness?"

Huan Jiulang turned around.

He glanced at her, then at the Five Stone Powder on the table and said, "You're exactly right." And then he helped himself to some.

Wang Hong was still playing the zither.

Ah Zhi slowly retreated to the courtyard, casting a glance inside the room from time to time as she went.