On the rooftop, He Sui’an still held onto Qi Buyan. His silver ornaments were pressed against him by her embrace, preventing any noise. If she let go, it would surely make a sound.
Due to their height difference, the top of He Sui’an’s head was just under Qi Buyan’s chin.
His warm breath seeped into her hair.
He Sui’an lifted her gaze.
The night guards and watchmen had moved away. She immediately released Qi Buyan’s waist.
In the moonlight, the boy’s silver ornaments shimmered with a faint, mysterious glow. The embroidery on his clothes seemed to change with every glance, forming countless different patterns but looking the same upon closer inspection.
He Sui’an found it hard to look away.
People are always curious about mysterious things, and she was no exception.
Realizing she had been staring at Qi Buyan for too long, He Sui’an chided herself for being distracted by his beauty and turned to survey their surroundings.
If they were to continue on the rooftops, they needed to plan a new route. He Sui’an recalled the layout of the Chang’an map, identifying and planning their path from the East Market’s street branches.
After all, walking on the ground and walking on rooftops presented different obstacles.
It felt as if she had done this before.
She continuously utilized her memory, always making use of it.
He Sui’an took a step towards the southeast of the rooftop: “This way is shorter.”
Qi Buyan heeded He Sui’an’s advice.
He had just memorized the entire map of Chang’an as well, and after hearing He Sui’an’s suggested route, he realized their thoughts matched perfectly.
Just as he was about to follow the route He Sui’an mentioned, Qi Buyan felt a gentle tug on his wrist. Turning around, he saw He Sui’an’s face.
Her hand slid down, holding his.
“Let’s go.”
Qi Buyan’s gaze lingered on He Sui’an’s face for a moment: “Alright.”
This courtyard wasn’t far from Qigong Pavilion. He Sui’an calculated the time; if they maintained this pace on the rooftops, it would take another half incense stick’s time to reach the pavilion.
He Sui’an had never walked on rooftops for such a long distance. She walked cautiously, prioritizing safety to avoid dislodging the tiles and alerting others. More importantly, she didn’t want to fall.
After half an incense stick’s time, she saw the Qigong Pavilion marked on the map.
The pavilion had flying eaves and upturned corners, carved with lions overlooking the sea, towering into the clouds. It contained pavilions over pools, surrounded by lush trees and scattered with rockeries and strange stones.
There was also a pavilion built over a pond. Only by being there in person could He Sui’an truly feel how wealthy and powerful the owner must be—certainly not just an ordinary noble.
He Sui’an wrapped her arms around Qi Buyan’s waist again.
They descended from the rooftop.
The pavilion occupied a large area in the East Market, and the surrounding courtyards seemed uninhabited. He Sui’an couldn’t help but speculate that the pavilion’s owner might have bought the nearby courtyards for convenience.
In the pavilion, faintly visible through thin curtains, two shadows were cast by candlelight: one standing, the other sitting with a guqin in front of them, fingers poised on the strings.
The sound of the guqin gently floated out from the pavilion.
Crisp and melodious, the music was exceptionally delicate.
With no one in the surrounding courtyards and the music not particularly loud, it wouldn’t travel far.
He Sui’an glanced at Qi Buyan and saw him walking along the curved corridor towards the pavilion. She followed closely, only to hear a sudden discordant “zheng” from the guqin, as if the player had intentionally played it chaotically.
The once beautiful and pleasing music turned into a haunting tune, reflecting the whimsical nature of the player.
The woman standing beside the player resisted the urge to cover her ears.
The piece ended.
The player lifted their eyes to look outside.
The thin curtain of the pavilion not only blocked He Sui’an and Qi Buyan’s view but also that of the people inside. The guqin player casually waved a hand, signaling for someone to lift the curtain.
As the curtain was lifted, He Sui’an’s gaze froze on the woman sitting at the guqin.
The woman was none other than Princess Luoyan, whom they had seen earlier tonight.
While Princess Luoyan hadn’t seen He Sui’an before, He Sui’an had certainly seen her.
Qi Buyan didn’t enter the pavilion; he stopped two steps away from it. This was the distance he maintained to avoid being caught off guard and to be ready to defend himself if necessary.
Yet, his lips held a gentle, soft smile, giving the impression that this young gentleman was polite and respectful.
Princess Luoyan stood up.
She snapped her fingers: “Are you the Miaojiang Gu practitioner here to make a deal with me?”
Zhi Mo, her maid, gently lowered her hand, reminding her to maintain her regal demeanor. Bad habits could easily become points of criticism.
Princess Luoyan complied.
Qi Buyan replied, “Yes.”
Princess Luoyan nodded, her gaze casually swept over the silk ribbon tying Qi Buyan’s hair and then He Sui’an’s, noticing that the ribbons were the same. She blinked subtly, intrigued.
She smiled directly, “Do all Miaojiang Gu practitioners look this good?”
He Sui’an stared at Princess Luoyan.
The princess had changed into a clean, neat dress, a palace gown embroidered with a phoenix in gold thread. Her previously disheveled hair was now neatly arranged, adorned with pearl hairpins.
Given that Princess Luoyan had come to the pavilion with only her personal maid, it showed she was both courageous and confident in her abilities.
He Sui’an felt a twinge of envy.
Princess Luoyan was decisive and efficient in her actions, a skill He Sui’an wished to learn to make herself stronger.
Qi Buyan’s smile remained as he cut straight to the point: “You mentioned wanting to meet me first before deciding on the deal. Months have passed, and now I’m here. So, what is your answer?”
“Straightforward.”
Princess Luoyan raised an eyebrow, “I like that.”
She walked over to the prepared banquet and sat down: “I find you both to have excellent presence. I’m willing to make a deal with you. Come, sit down. This is a special arrangement just for you.”
Zhi Mo felt her princess was being too hasty. How could she agree to a deal based on their appearance without first understanding the payment they required?
Qi Buyan didn’t move to sit.
He didn’t look at the banquet table either: “Since you want to make a deal with me, what is the wish you want to fulfill?”
Princess Luoyan’s smile faded slightly.
The wish she wanted to fulfill.
“Tomorrow then. Come back here at this time tomorrow, and I will tell you what my wish is. Naturally, I will also give you the payment you desire.”
Zhi Mo tugged at Princess Luoyan’s sleeve, whispering, “Shouldn’t you ask them what payment they want?”
“No need.”
Princess Luoyan replied casually, “Whatever they want, I likely have it. Since they can help me fulfill my wish, whatever they ask for, I will give them. We can discuss it later.”
If her wish could be fulfilled, she would give anything, even her life.
Zhi Mo couldn’t argue with her.
He Sui’an was also taken aback by Princess Luoyan’s straightforwardness. Most people would hesitate, but she seemed completely unbothered.
Noticing He Sui’an’s gaze, Princess Luoyan teased, “Why do you keep looking at me? Do you like me?”
Qi Buyan glanced at He Sui’an upon hearing this.
She waved her hand, “No, I…”
Princess Luoyan quickly feigned a hurt expression: “What? You don’t like me? Why not? I’m not ugly, am I? People always say I have a lovely face.”
Zhi Mo was about to interrupt.
He Sui’an quickly responded, “No, I don’t dislike you.”
Princess Luoyan chuckled, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at He Sui’an: “How amusing. You’re very pretty and quite entertaining.”
She didn’t realize how endearing she looked when she was lost in thought.
He Sui’an blushed.
Qi Buyan’s expression remained unchanged.
Princess Luoyan, who always had a fondness for beautiful and rare accessories, noticed the butterfly silver chain on Qi Buyan’s wrist. It was delicate and attractive, and she couldn’t help but admire it.
“Where did you get your butterfly silver chain?” she asked, “I want to buy one just like it.”
“You can’t buy the same one.”
Qi Buyan replied.
People from Tianshui Village in Miaojiang only have four butterfly silver chains in their lifetime.
The materials used to forge the butterfly silver chain are very special. Firstly, the silver used is different from ordinary silver, although it can still be found if one looks hard enough. The difficult part is obtaining the heart blood.
To create a butterfly silver chain, the heart blood of the baby who will wear the chain is needed.
The heart blood must be taken on the baby’s first day of life. Even one day later, it would be useless.
If the heart blood is not taken on the baby’s first day, it cannot be used to forge the butterfly silver chain that can suppress the inherent snake venom in the bodies of people from Tianshui Village in Miaojiang. Without this, the chain is useless.
Newborn babies are fragile; only four drops of heart blood can be taken on the first day.
Taking more would kill the baby.
The purpose of creating the butterfly silver chain is to ensure the child’s survival, so naturally, they only take four drops.
Each drop of heart blood is enough to forge one butterfly silver chain. Thus, four chains can be made, but nothing more. Other silver items, like bracelets, require too much blood, as they must be worn on both wrists and both ankles.
All are essential.
The reason a child must wear the butterfly silver chain made by their mother within a hundred days of birth is that without it, the child can only live for a hundred days. After that, they will surely die.
After obtaining the baby’s heart blood, it can be preserved for a hundred days. During this time, the forging of the butterfly silver chain requires the addition of four drops of the mother’s heart blood, usually made by the mother herself.
Every person from Tianshui Village thus has their own unique butterfly silver chain.
Others cannot use your chain.
You cannot use someone else’s.
One can have only four butterfly silver chains in their lifetime, essential for their survival.
They cannot be replaced or repaired. New silver that does not contain the person’s heart blood from their first day of life cannot be added to the chain.
If one chain breaks, they die.
Qi Buyan’s four butterfly silver chains have been with him for eighteen years.
Princess Luoyan didn’t probe further when he said it was impossible to buy the same butterfly silver chain. She just liked it and didn’t insist: “Alright. Why haven’t you sat down to eat?”
After agreeing on a deal, it’s customary to share a meal to show both parties’ sincerity.
This is the custom of Chang’an.
She is a native of Chang’an.
He Sui’an explained, “Sorry, we ate before coming here. We really can’t eat anymore.”
Princess Luoyan didn’t push, raising her wine cup: “If you can’t eat, then a drink will suffice to show you have partaken in the meal I had prepared.”
She paused and asked, “Wait, do you both drink?”
He Sui’an stepped forward and drank a cup of wine.
Qi Buyan also took a cup, raised his head, and drank it down, smiling as he said, “Then we will leave now. We will return at this time tomorrow night.”
Princess Luoyan drank her wine in one gulp.
“Alright.”
They turned and left, avoiding the night guards as they retraced their route back to the inn.
The inn was just as quiet as when they had left. As they climbed the stairs, He Sui’an tiptoed to avoid making any noise. Only when they reached their room did she breathe a sigh of relief.
She closed the door and decided to wash her face and brush her teeth to get rid of the taste of wine.
He Sui’an called for Qi Buyan to join her.
She called several times but received no response. Looking at him, she noticed he was sitting on the bed, his eyes seeming a bit unfocused. He Sui’an walked over, puzzled, and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
She bent down.
The young man tilted his head up and silently kissed her.
A strong thought flashed through He Sui’an’s mind: Qi Buyan got drunk after one cup. It turned out he couldn’t handle alcohol at all. It was a bit unbelievable.
Just as she was surprised, she heard the click of Qi Buyan unfastening the buckle of his waistband.
A strange tingling sensation spread through He Sui’an’s heart.
