Chapter 114 The Melody
Madam Wan smiled calmly: "I dare not hold Young Master Nie accountable. I was just passing by and came to watch the excitement. Please make yourselves at home."
The last sentence was clearly addressed to the onlookers.
She glanced at the pipa player, then turned and walked out of the restaurant.
Zheng Yanling watched as Madam Wan left, and a sense of admiration rose in her heart.
To reach this position as a stewardess is truly remarkable.
Longxing Cloth Shop—the name sounded familiar, but Zheng Yanling couldn't quite place it.
Nie Huaiyuan snapped out of his reverie, glared at the pipa player, and all the romantic thoughts he had just had vanished.
But whose daughter is this meddlesome little girl?
He gave Zheng Yanling a malicious look. Now that his mind was clear, he could see people much more clearly. He hadn't noticed her before, but now he realized that this girl had a unique charm.
Although he looked somewhat familiar, Nie Huaiyuan, who prided himself on having few people in the capital he couldn't afford to offend, chuckled and asked:
"Miss, whose daughter are you? I don't recognize you at all. Would I have the honor of inviting you for a drink?"
Zheng Yanling felt a chill run down her spine, her eyes filled with disgust:
"Since Young Master Nie is so forgetful, there's no need for you to recognize me. Farewell."
Now that the pipa player was alright, she didn't want to stay any longer and turned to go upstairs.
"Girl, girl, don't go, girl!"
Nie Huaiyuan got carried away and shouted twice. Just as he was about to chase after them, he tripped over his own foot and fell flat on his face in front of everyone.
Zheng Yanling took a few quick steps, not even sparing a glance for Nie Huaiyuan, who had fallen behind her.
"Sister Zheng, are you alright?"
Xiao Yuxuan walked to her side, and Zheng Yanling gently shook her head, briefly explaining what had just happened.
The group didn't dwell on the matter. After finishing their meal, they left the restaurant together.
Xiao Yuxuan looked up and saw a woman wearing a blue veil hat carrying a pipa, standing sideways to them, not far from the entrance of the restaurant.
A gentle breeze swept by, slightly lifting the veil to reveal a slender chin of the woman inside.
It was that pipa player from earlier.
She saw them too, and walked quickly towards them against the wind.
"My daughter, Qu Sisi, is very grateful for your help."
She bowed to Zheng Yanling.
"It was nothing, and besides, I'm not your benefactor. It's Madam Wan from Longxing Cloth Shop who is."
Qu Sisi smiled gently, and two adorable dimples appeared on her slender cheeks:
"But you were the first person to stop that young master, and Yu Sisi has already saved his life."
"Father often says that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. Sisi has nothing of value except a pipa, which has been passed down from Father. If there is anything Sisi needs in the future, please feel free to use her."
Xiao Yuxuan was taken aback, then suddenly thought of something and asked:
"Your surname is Qu? Your father also plays the pipa, could it be that your father is..."
Qu Sisi's gaze fell on her, seemingly surprised that she knew, and she slowly said, "My father is Qu Qing. How did this young lady know?"
Xiao Yuxuan thought to herself that things were going badly. Qu Qing had died an innocent death in his previous life. Although his daughter had inherited his pipa skills, she had to live in anonymity for ten years before she finally cleared her father's name.
The last pipa piece was played by Qu Sisi, who stood on the city wall, dressed in mourning clothes, and played the pipa with a clear and resonant sound that broke the hearts of passersby.
Then the music ended and the crowd dispersed. Qu Sisi, clutching her father's zither, jumped off the city wall and was smashed to pieces.
Xiao Yuxuan happened to pass by that day and witnessed it firsthand. She even had someone cover her with a cloak, so she was deeply impressed.
"Mr. Qu Qing's pipa playing is superb, and I had heard of it from the common people before."
Hearing someone appreciate her father's pipa playing so much, Qu Sisi was very happy, and her smile deepened.
"Thank you for your praise, Miss. If Father knew that he was so famous, he would be all smiles."
As she spoke, the light in her eyes gradually dimmed.
"However, my father is seriously ill and I don't know if he will make it through this summer. If you like listening to the pipa, I will play it for you in the future."
A trace of sadness flashed across Qu Sisi's eyes.
"This is my first time performing at this restaurant. I just wanted to earn some money for my father's medical treatment, but after what happened today... I'm afraid I won't be able to come back in the future."
"Why am I saying all this, everyone? Sisi will take her leave now."
"Wait a minute."
Xiao Yuxuan's mouth moved faster than her brain, and she called out to Qu Sisi.
She didn't know what she was thinking. Perhaps it was a pity that such a pipa master had fallen, or perhaps she didn't want to see innocent people sacrificed because of the power struggle within the party.
It's also possible that she simply felt that since she could foresee Qu Sisi's future fate, she had no reason to stand by and watch this father and daughter become pitiful.
"Where do you live now? My family's physician is quite skilled; I'll have him go and take a look at your father."
Qu Sisi was stunned, her eyes freezing for a moment. She looked up in disbelief at the kind girl.
Upon returning to the Xiao residence, Xiao Yuxuan personally went to the residence of the family physician.
"Does Fifth Sister know what symptoms this person has? I'd like to prepare some things to take with me in advance."
Doctor Pei happened to be in the room when he heard Xiao Yuxuan say that Pei Xing'er was to treat someone. He immediately pushed the eager Pei Xing'er aside.
"Get out of here, you're not cut out for treating and saving lives, kid."
Pei Xing'er was indignant, but as soon as she poked her head out, Doctor Pei pressed her back down.
"If Fifth Miss trusts me, how about I make this trip myself?"
Xiao Yuxuan hesitated for a moment: "But Doctor Pei is the physician of the Xiao family. Can he practice medicine outside without my father and mother's permission?"
She came to Pei Xing'er because she wasn't sure if it was okay.
Doctor Pei coughed lightly twice, glanced to the side to make sure no one else was around, and lowered his voice to say:
"It's okay to do it once or twice occasionally, just don't go out too often."
"In that case, I'll leave Mr. Qu Qing in the care of Doctor Pei."
Xiao Yuxuan felt slightly relieved.
In terms of medical skills, Doctor Pei's level is no lower than that of the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital. However, in order to repay a debt of gratitude and to enjoy a leisurely life, he has stayed in the Xiao family for more than ten years.
"You're saying that person was poisoned by elixirs?"
Doctor Pei paused in stroking his beard.
Alchemists and their deceptive practices won't fool the poor.
The so-called elixir of immortality is extremely rare and is mostly reserved for royalty and nobility.
An emperor from the previous dynasty was obsessed with such elixirs. In the end, the poison from the elixirs accumulated to an excessive degree, and he died bleeding from all seven orifices. After that, it was explicitly forbidden that any alchemists should ever appear again, and the court and the people were strictly prohibited from doing so.
Even so, there are still some people who crave immortality and secretly collect elixirs, hoping to be the chosen one who can be reborn.
The person Fifth Sister wants to save can't possibly be some royal relative, can she...?
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