Chapter 11: Chapter 11: Peace White Tea

Qiu Ling bowed her head and exited the room. Once she was gone, Li Yingshan sat back in her chair, relaxing.

"I never expected Cloudless Night Sect to be involved. This plan was more elaborate than I thought. It seems I have my work cut out for me."

"Third Young Lady Li, as long as you don't stress your body, your condition shouldn't get worse just yet."

"Ren Shengfu, I've already been poisoned for about a year. I can feel the numbness creeping around my body. If the Black Phoenixes can get the Peace White Tea, then that'll be good. If they can't, then I must resign myself to four years left."

He swallowed. "I once heard that your family had this rare herb that could cure anything."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not going back there."

"It was just a thought. I'm afraid I have to go now, but I'll be back in a week to check up on you."

She nodded. "Alright."

"I'll take my leave first then."

Madam Meng added, "I'll see you to the door."

Once they both left, Li Yingshan closed her eyes. A single tear slid down her cheeks.

Of all poisons, it had to be Fury Black Poison. Why? What have I done to anger Heaven?

∇

That night, the elite stealth team of Moonlight Pagoda, known as the Black Phoenixes, infiltrated Cloudless Night Sect. They moved amongst the shadows and crept around to the heavily guarded treasury room. Throwing hidden knives, they took out the guards easily and silently. Slipping inside, the Black Phoenixes searched and quickly found the recipe for the Peace White Tea. They left just as swiftly as they had come.

Han Shaolei met them at the rendezvous point and took the recipe from them. They leapt up using qinggong and disappeared into the night. Han Shaolei urged his horse back to Luoyang.

Qiu Ling was sitting at a table at Jade Bell Inn when he entered. She looked up as he approached. "Do you have it?"

He nodded. "Take this to Goddess. Surely, with her intelligence, she can find the ingredients."

Qiu Ling took the rolled piece of paper from him. "Good work. My Lady will surely reward you for a job well done."

He saluted respectfully. "Without Moonlight Pagoda, I would still be serving under a cruel master. Goddess is my savior. I don't need any reward."

With that, Qiu Ling exited Jade Bell Inn and made her way back to Dream House.

∇

Behind a curtain, a shadowy figure could be seen. She was sitting down and held a pipa in her arms. As her fingers began to pluck at the strings, the first notes of a song rang out. Patrons of Dream House turned to listen.

The music lulled but started to grow frantic. A feeling of urgency filled everyone in the room. Sitting in her wheelchair, Li Yingshan's eyes were closed as she held onto the pipa tightly. She felt the music wash over her and explode. The other courtesans could only shake their heads.

Goddess of Moonlight Pagoda, an Elite of the Jianghu, and an excellent musician. We can't compare to her at all.

Cheng Nuo had told the others what she had learned about their newest sister. When the others heard that Li Yingshan had once been the best of the best in the Jianghu, they had originally laughed. But after a while, things started to make sense. Li Yingshan's boldness, her intelligence, and her network... how else could she have it all?

When the song finally drew to a close, Li Yingshan let the final note echo. Then, the men clapped enthusiastically.

"Well done!"

"Beautiful!"

"Amazing!"

"Such a good musician!"

Li Yingshan was still hidden behind the all-round curtain in the center of the room. From any angle, no man could fully see her. This had been Madam Meng's idea to create an air of mysteriousness around her. It was also to keep her identity a bit more hidden.

Once the focus was drawn away from Li Yingshan, she quietly slipped away. Returning to her room, she was just about to enter when Yu Jiao approached her.

"Young Lady Li, your playing of the pipa was very good."

Li Yingshan smiled. "I haven't played for a while. I'm still a little rusty. I'm sure some of you can play better than me."

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"No way! None of us can play the pipa, it was too difficult for any of us to learn. We only know the qin or flute."

"Well, thank you then."

"My Lady!" Qiu Ling cried as she barged in. "I've got it!"

Li Yingshan's eyes widened. "Yu Jiao, please excuse us. We'll retire for the night."

Qiu Ling steered her Lady into the room and shut the door. Yu Jiao just shook her head and returned to the main room. Inside her bedroom, Li Yingshan took the recipe from Qiu Ling. Her eyes carefully read over the list of ingredients and instructions. Tears began to develop.

"It's possible. The Peace White Tea can be made. I can be cured."

"My Lady, really?"

"Yes. Tomorrow, go out and buy these ingredients from a medical store. Come back, and I'll instruct you in how to make the tea."

"Yes, my Lady."

∇

The next day, Qiu Ling departed from Dream House early. When she came back, she wheeled Li Yingshan into the kitchen, where they temporarily kicked out all of the cooks and kitchen staff.

"What do you need me to do, my Lady?"

So Li Yingshan slowly walked her through the process. Qiu Ling rolled and crushed the ingredients, starting to make the tea. She boiled water and dumped the ingredients into the heating pot.

"Now let it sit and cook for an hour. This warns that it'll be bitter, but if it can cure me, I don't care."

"Yes, my Lady."

After an hour, the Peace White Tea was ready. Qiu Ling poured a serving into a cup and blew on it. Then, she handed it over to Li Yingshan. Li Yingshan took it and stared at the dark brown liquid.

Please let this work, she prayed.

Raising the cup to her lips, she let the warm tea flow down her throat. The recipe said she had to drink the whole pot, so she slowly drank it all. Once the teapot was empty, she sighed.

"My Lady?"

Her face scrunched. "Qiu Ling, I don't feel so well. Take me back."

Qiu Ling rolled her back to her room and helped her into bed. Li Yingshan's forehead had already become beaded with sweat, and she was shivering. Qiu Ling tucked the quilt up over her to keep her warm.

"Don't worry, my Lady. Qiu Ling is right here. I won't leave."

Li Yingshan slowly slipped into the black oblivion of sleep.

When she finally awoke, her fever had already broken. She sat up in bed, groaning.

"My Lady!"

"Qiu Ling, how long was I asleep?"

"Five days, my Lady."

Her eyes widened. She reached down and slowly pressed against her legs. A shocked gasp escaped her lips. She twisted and let her legs hang off the bed.

"Qiu Ling, quickly, help me stand."

Her maid did as she was ordered.  With mild support, Li Yingshan stood. She took a step forward with Qiu Ling's aid.

"My Lady, did the Peace White Tea work?"

"My legs aren't numb any longer. If I keep strengthening them, I should be able to walk again. Qiu Ling, it worked!"

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