Wandering Songs at the Ends of the Earth

Chapter 11

“I have also inquired about this, but Qilian did not experience any poisoning after taking the ‘Life-Sustaining Pill,’ but judging from her pulse, the poison has not been eliminated.”

Xingge pondered for a moment, "As far as I know, 'Iron-Blooded Loyalty' has two formulas because the ingredients required for its preparation are rare. Although the effects and properties are the same, they can actually be regarded as two different poisons. Since I started spending time with Qilian, I have often taken her pulse. Qilian's pulse this month is slightly different from last month's!"

Qingfeng was shocked to hear this and quickly reached out to check Qilian's pulse. After careful examination, he found it to be true!

"You mean the poison Qilian was poisoned with is different from last month's? When was she poisoned again?" Hua Lian couldn't help but ask anxiously.

Xingge chuckled, "Thinking about it carefully, it can only be that 'Life-Extending Pill'! I'm certain that this pill contains the antidote for one of the formulas and the toxin for the other. Every time Qilian takes it, he is detoxified, but then he gets poisoned again!"

"You've seen the pills too. The poison of 'Iron-Blooded Loyalty' is always colorless and odorless. How can you be so sure?" Qingfeng's eyes gleamed with hope as he urgently asked for confirmation.

"We'll see if we try. But if it doesn't work, we might lose a month, and you won't have to go through all that trouble to come to Xicang." Xingge said lightly, winking at Qilian with a smile.

"I'll try!" Qi Lian answered without hesitation.

Qingfeng and Qilian exchanged a glance for a moment, then Qingfeng said gently, "I'll accompany you to the ends of the earth!" Turning to Xingge, he asked, "How do you suggest we try?"

"Heh, as long as the poison in the pill is extracted. The reason why 'Iron-Blooded Loyalty' has no other way to be countered except with an antidote is because its poison will quickly dissolve into the blood. Young Master is willing to give up his life, so he won't be stingy with a few bowls of blood, will he?"

Qingfeng was taken aback. After understanding what he meant, he took out a clean teacup, pressed two fingers hard, and blood gushed into the bowl. He took out a pill from his pocket and put it into the bowl. Instantly, the blood turned black. He repeated this three times until the blood in the bowl stopped changing color.

Xingge took the pill out of the blood bowl and washed it in clean water. The pill had changed from its previous eerie green color to dark brown.

"Now that's more like an antidote!" Xingge muttered as she handed the pill to Qilian, gently tapping Qilian's wrist to check his pulse.

Qi Lianchong smiled warmly at Qingfeng and swallowed the pill without hesitation.

Xingge closed his eyes and quietly examined Qilian's wrist pulse, ignoring the anxious gaze opposite him.

After a long while, Xingge opened her eyes, her gaze filled with sadness as she looked at Qingfeng.

Qingfeng felt an unbearable pain in his heart, and the words stuck in his throat, afraid to ask and hear the despairing result.

"Qilian... I'm afraid..." Xingge hesitated.

"What do you mean, 'I'm afraid'?! Your tongue's gone!" Hua Lian exclaimed angrily.

Xingge walked slowly to Qingfeng and said bitterly, "I'm afraid Qilian... won't be able to eat for three hours and will go hungry!"

Qingfeng was stunned by what he heard, and then he saw Xingge's bitter face turn into a mocking smile as if turning the pages of a book.

"What exactly are you trying to say?" Qingfeng whispered incredulously.

"The poison in Qilian has weakened, but the antidote seems to have been slowed down by us. It will take three hours. Hehe, so the young master can only watch his beauty go hungry with a heavy heart!"

Qingfeng's face gradually changed from despair to ecstasy. He glared at Xingge, then stood up and embraced Qilian with tears of joy.

Xingge turned to Hualian, who was standing to the side, looking both amused and exasperated, and said, "Lord Jiang, I have some newly designed gadgets. Would you be interested in taking a look?" Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed Hualian and left the secret room.

Hua Lian followed Ge out and asked suspiciously, "How did you determine that the pills were poisonous?"

"Guess!" Xingge replied with a smile, tilting her head in a good mood.

Hua Lian looked at that nonchalant face and said, "You're not really just guessing, are you?"

Xingge cursed inwardly, "Do I look like someone who treats human life like dirt?!"

"Guess again!" Xingge said irritably, then left the stunned Hualian and went to find Old Madam Bu to appease her.

Three hours later, Xingge and Hualian returned to the secret chamber. Qilian was already having his meal. Qingfeng came before Xingge and bowed deeply.

"I truly don't know how to repay Miss Ye's kindness in saving my life!"

Xingge gazed at the perfect couple who had finally become husband and wife; they were truly a sight to behold. Her eyes flickered...

"Does the eldest young master truly wish to thank me?"

"If Miss Ye needs anything, I would gladly die for you."

"Hehe, young master, you flatter me. I suppose you will be heading south with Qilian soon. I have an old friend in Linzhou who raised me. I have been away for many years and have not been able to be by her side. Could you two please visit her on my behalf and stay for a while to keep her company?"

"Please write a letter, Miss Ye, and I will go straight to Linzhou to fulfill your wish."

Xingge quickly wrote a letter and handed it to Qingfeng.

Hehe, Ruyi, I've brought you heroes and beauties. How you use them is up to you. I won't renege on my 20% commitment!

Catching a smug and strange smile on Xingge's face, Hua Lian felt a chill run down his spine. Not understanding why, he could only look at the ill-fated couple with boundless sympathy.

19. Fifty thousand taels

Within ten days, Qingfeng had taken Qilian south. After the funeral at Bujiabao, Bu Qingyun, the second son of the Bu family, took over as the head of the Bu family. The return escort mission from the prefectural government was finally scheduled to depart in seven days.

After finishing his business with the Ministry of Works, Hua Lian prepared to return to the capital with his escort team.

Having spent several days singing and dancing at the Chenxiang Pavilion, he invited Hua Lian to the pavilion that evening for drinks and music. In a corner room on the third floor, the two enjoyed their wine and conversation. Hua Lian looked up at the bright moon and couldn't help but sigh.

"I wonder if Qingfeng and the others have arrived in Linzhou yet?"

"Those two lovebirds who envy the immortals must be incredibly happy, why would you need to worry about them!" You should worry about yourself! Xingge leaned against the couch, her eyes smiling.

"That's right. Even if you hadn't come up with an antidote, those two would definitely have preferred to die together rather than live together. Their deep affection is truly enviable!"

Xingge's smile froze. Envious?! She rose and slowly walked to the window, looking down at the bustling lights of the courtyard and long street. Her eyes were like an icy abyss, yet she chuckled and sang softly.

"Flowers and grasses like these are loved by people, life and death are as people wish, so even if there is bitterness and sorrow, no one will complain..."

Hua Lian gazed at the slender profile by the window. No longer was she the bright young man on the streets of the East Market, the skilled craftsman in the workshop, the talented young master at the family banquet, the radiant zither player by the lotus pond, the playful guest in the bedroom, or the composed strategist in the hall. The person before him leaned wearily against the window frame, her eyes as cold as the night, yet illuminated by the fading lights outside, creating a dazzling and enchanting scene that compelled one to explore the depths of her heart and soul…

Brother Hua Lian

Hua Lian snapped back to reality and found that the pretty face that had been by the window was now right in front of him, with deep dimples and a sweet smile that seemed to overflow with honey. He immediately became alert and leaned back.

"Miss Ye, what advice do you have for me?"

"Brother Hua Lian, do you still remember what it was like when you last came here?"

"Oh, I was seriously injured at the time, and it was thanks to Miss Ye that I was saved..."

"Stop, stop, stop! I'm so grateful, I won't thank you enough!"

"Then what should we do?" Hua Lianjian sensed something was wrong.

You owe me a life!

"ah!"

"This time, Chenxiang Tower couldn't help either. I've already promised Hongxiu to work here as a girl for a few days. How will you repay this kindness?"

"You want to be a girl in a brothel?! I'm a grown man, there's nothing I can do to help you."

"I'll be performing the day after tomorrow, and customers will be bidding against each other. All we need now is a wealthy patron to book me!" Xingge said with a smile, looking at Hualian.

"Oh, isn't that a bit inappropriate?!"

"You want to repay me with your life?"

...

"We're such good friends, I'll give you a discount, fifty thousand taels." Xingge smiled radiantly.

Are you made of gold?

“Brother Hua Lian, this is the price of a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works.”

...

"Otherwise, if I need to commit murder, robbery, or sell my life in the future, will I come looking for you?"

"I don't have that much money!"

"Girl, I have plenty of time. You can save it up slowly!"

"Um!"

"Words are no proof! Bring me the jade token."

"You know that too?!" Hua Lian's sunny and handsome face almost turned bitter.

The Jiang family ancestors once acquired a huge piece of beautiful Lantian jade, which they commissioned craftsmen to cut into several jade plaques. When a Jiang family descendant was born, their name would be engraved on the plaque, and the child would wear it from a young age. Gradually, this evolved into a necessary token for betrothal in the Jiang family. Since marriage could only be arranged by the parents, the jade plaques naturally could not be given away.

"Hmph, I'll return it to you once you bring the silver to redeem it. Or should I ask Master Jiang for fifty thousand taels?"

After much deliberation, Hua Lian reluctantly took the jade pendant off his neck. "Here! Fifty thousand taels! Keep it safe. If anything goes wrong, I will exterminate your entire family."

Nine generations of relatives? My cousin should count too! Xingge laughed and leaned back in the chair, carefully examining the jade pendant in her hand. It was pure white and lustrous, just like the one in her arms, and had a special warmth to it!

Seeing Xingge's smug and strange smile, Hua Lian exclaimed in shock, "You! You tricked Qingfeng and the other two into going to Linzhou to exchange for silver!"

"Don't worry, their combined net worth isn't even as much as yours!"

The Chenxiang Pavilion was brightly decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and it introduced a new top courtesan. Fanzhou City was bustling with patrons, and even the newly appointed head of the Bu family came to show their support.

Hua Lian and Qing Yun sat in the elegant seats on the left side of the stage, and Xing Ge came over to greet them with a smile.

Hua Lian sullenly sized up the woman who had received fifty thousand taels of silver. Her usually calm, dark eyes were now gleaming with a cat-like light. Her face was covered in layers of makeup, making her alluring, charming, and incomparably beautiful.

A woman from Taichung sings a beautiful song, her graceful figure and flowing sleeves, accompanied by the melodious strains of a zither and alluring red makeup.

Even in Bujiabao, I've never seen you work this hard! The audience below drooled with lustful eyes, and the whistle echoed. Hua Lian was furious, and a violent urge to cut off the ears and gouge out the eyes of everyone surged in his chest... He was stunned by this inexplicable anger!

"Three hundred taels! Five hundred taels! One thousand taels, five thousand taels!" The silver bids kept piling up, and Hongxiu laughed so hard she was shaking. Xingge had agreed to only accept the highest bids, and in the process, all the bids went into her own pocket. It was truly worth the careful training she had received back then!

"Fifty thousand taels!"

Xingge followed the sound and saw an excited old man, his face flushed, staring at him greedily from the elegant seat to his right. Turning back to look at the dumbfounded Hua Lian, he gave him a knowing smile and then strolled over to the pile of silver ingots and notes. "Golden silver! You've delivered this to my doorstep. Don't blame me if you fall into a deep sleep for three or five days!" Just as he was about to touch the pile of ingots, a loud voice rang out from across the table.

"One hundred thousand taels!"

Xingge glared murderously at Hualian! You don't even need to spend any money! What are you trying to do!

The old man was so angry that he spat out white foam when he saw that he hadn't even touched the beauty's hand despite spending fifty thousand taels of silver. Only Hongxiu laughed so hard that she could hardly breathe.

Hua Lian strode forward and encircled the beauty's waist, waiting for Hongxiu to announce her intentions. Xingge, 'shyly', leaned her head against his shoulder and said fiercely,

"You have 100,000 taels?!"

“I don’t have 50,000 taels either, but you have plenty of time, I can save it up slowly,” Hua Lian said with a feigned intimacy and a soft, sly smile.

Xingge watched helplessly as Hongxiu took the cash away, speechless and questioning the heavens!

20. Return to Beijing