Half an hour ago.
King Hui lay on the bed, clutching his stomach, groaning incessantly. He had already forced down bowl after bowl of the medicine prescribed by the Royal physician, yet instead of alleviating his condition, it merely gave him another symptom—vomiting, on top of his relentless diarrhea.
His intestines felt as though they were twisting into knots, his stomach gurgled loudly, and he was so starved that he feel dizziness. Yet, he dared not eat anything, fearing that if his stomach acted up again, he wouldn't even have time to pull down his pants.
Why wouldn't he have time? That was something only experience could teach.
The room was filled with incense—ten burners' worth, enough to smoke-cure meat—yet the stench refused to dissipate.