Finest Servant

"Sister, please don't joke with me anymore," Lin Wanrong said helplessly. "Little sister is about to return to the royal court. We must treat her soon, or it'll be too late!"

"Oh you," An Biru lightly tapped his nose, smiling. "Even Yueya'er isn't this anxious. Yet here you are, the Khan Consort fretting like an ant on a hot pan."

Lin Wanrong shook his head bitterly. "Master Sister, you don't understand. Little sister, she's already…"

"Already pregnant, isn't she?" An Biru fixed her gaze on him, speaking calmly.

"You... How did you know?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed in shock.

The fact that Yujia was with child was known only to the two of them, and they hadn't told anyone else. How could Master Sister know? Remembering An Biru's abilities, he suddenly realized, "I understand now, Master Sister, you eavesdropped!"

"Pooh," An Biru retorted lightly. "When you meet your little lover, it's all sweet nothings and clinging to each other. Why would I eavesdrop? That would just be torturing myself."

Lin Wanrong blinked, puzzled. "Then how did you know? Even Qingxuan and the others are unaware!"

"You orchestrated it?" Lin Wanrong gaped, his mouth hanging open in disbelief. "How... how can that be?"

"Weren't you always curious about the poison in Yujia?" An Biru smiled. "Now I'll tell you. The deadly poison she's afflicted with is called 'Love Stronger than Gold'!"

"Love Stronger than Gold?" Lin Wanrong's eyes widened. A poison with such a melodious name?

Seeing his confused look, An Biru sighed gently. "Love Stronger than Gold, as the name suggests, is both a poison and yet not a poison."

Lin Wanrong, more puzzled than ever, grasped her hand tightly. "What do you mean by both a poison and not a poison?"

The Holy Maiden smiled softly. "This 'Love Stronger than Gold' is a secret concoction of the Miao, made from a hundred different herbs. Its toxicity is so fierce that no antidote in the world can counter it! This recipe has always been passed down only to the leaders of Miao villages. No one else in the world knows of it."

Hearing that there was no antidote, Lin Wanrong felt his world explode. He swayed dramatically, struggling to remain standing.

An Biru quickly steadied him, giving him an exasperated look. "What are you panicking about? I haven't finished explaining yet!"

"Yes, yes," he said, feeling slightly better, looking at her expectantly. "Sister, please explain it all in one go! My heart isn't very strong lately, and I can't take many more shocks."

"This 'Love Stronger than Gold', though potent, only affects unmarried and pure women. Once poisoned, they only have five months to live," An Biru said seductively, gazing at him. "I planted it in Yujia's body to test the Turkic girl's feelings for you!"

"How... How can you test that?" Lin Wanrong asked, dumbfounded.

"Yujia's method of rescuing Li Wuling, you have seen it with your own eyes. With her medical skills, she cannot be deceived by this incurable poison in her body. But this is a secret medicine of the Miao tribe. Even if your little sister is clever, she probably can't think of a cure."

The moment Yueya'er lost her memory, the image of her lonely and despairing eyes silently reappeared before Lin Wanrong, who sighed deeply. "It's likely that little sister's recovery of all her memories is related to the deadly poison in her body," he said quietly.

"It's not just that," An Biru nodded with a smile. "Think about it. A woman caught in the whirlpool of love, facing the man she fancies every day, knowing these are the last few months of her life. What would she do? Especially someone like Yujia, a clever and passionate woman from the grasslands!"

What did she do? Lin Wanrong pondered for a long time but couldn't figure it out, only managing a helpless shake of his head.

"You fool!" the Holy Maiden chided him with a few playful glares. "She offered her innocence to you, even willing to bear your child. Yet, you still don't understand what she has done?"

"You mean... the wedding night?" Lin Wanrong's face flushed. "Is this related to the poisoning?"

"When a person is about to die, their words and actions are the most honest moments of their life," An Biru nodded slightly, sighing quietly. "A woman like Yujia, who loves and hates boldly without fear, would surely fulfill her final wishes in her last days. She repeatedly made concessions in negotiations between the two countries and gave her pristine self to you, knowing she was doomed. She didn't want to leave with regrets, so she gave you all the best of herself."

Lin Wanrong listened, trembling with emotion, his eyes moistening as he tightly grasped her hand. "Sister, I beg you, save little sister!"

"I've already said, the deadly 'Love Stronger than Gold' has no cure in this world."

Lin Wanrong's face immediately turned ashen. An Biru gently patted his hand and smiled, "To save her, there's only one way!"

"What way?!" Lin Wanrong perked up instantly.

An Biru chuckled, "You've already cured her. Why come asking me?"

Cured her? Lin Wanrong was utterly baffled. What did she mean?

"Silly little brother!" An Biru teased him with a flirtatious glance. "What do you enjoy doing the most?"

"What I enjoy the most? Our wedding night?" Lin Wanrong jumped up in shock. "Sister, you mean, Yueya'er and I, doing that, could cure the poison?"

An Biru sighed softly. "Perhaps even Yujia herself didn't realize. Her love for you was so profound, she offered her purity to you, ultimately saving herself. 'Love Stronger than Gold' only affects virgins. If married within five months, losing her virginity, the poison not only neutralizes itself but also transforms into a fertility aid. That's why it's called 'Love Stronger than Gold'—it's both poison and cure, a test for true lovers."

So that was the secret of 'Love Stronger than Gold'! No wonder Yueya'er never mentioned being poisoned after that night! Lin Wanrong was so astonished he couldn't utter a word, his heart swelling with a mix of sorrow and sweetness as tears welled up in his eyes.

After a moment of thought, he suddenly shook his head, puzzled. "Sister, there's something I don't understand. How did you know little sister would certainly spend her wedding night with me? What if, within those five months, she had become fond of someone else?"

"With someone else? Then that would also cure her!" the Holy Maiden laughed.

"What?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, jumping up in disbelief. "How could that be possible?"

"This is what they mean by 'the observer sees more clearly than the players involved'," An Biru said softly, shaking her head. "Watching Yujia travel alongside you, her subtle affections, hidden yet evident, it was clear. A distinguished woman of the grasslands like her, once entangled in love, is not easily swayed. Not just for five months, but even for five hundred years, she would not fall for another. In her final moments, any normal woman's greatest desire is to devote everything to the one she loves. This is what 'Love Stronger than Gold' truly means."

Such was the nature of 'Love Stronger than Gold'. Lin Wanrong felt a mix of joy and sorrow. He turned silently, gazing into the endless grasslands, where at the horizon, a graceful figure seemed to be tenderly looking back at him.

His nose tingled with emotion. Grasping the Holy Maiden's hand, he said quietly, "Sister, thank you!"

"Now you're relieved, aren't you?" An Biru gently wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, smiling. "After hardship comes sweetness. Your little Yueya'er must be waking up from her dreams with a smile now. But this is what she deserves, for her steadfast passion is unmatched in this world."

Lin Wanrong nodded slightly, finally understanding the meaning behind the Holy Maiden's invitation to return to the grasslands. Not only could he reunite with Yueya'er, but he could also revisit old dreams with Sister An, a double blessing indeed.

"Little brother," An Biru suddenly said seductively, her voice soft in his ear, "am I good to you?"

"Good, very good!" Lin Wanrong nodded hurriedly.

An Biru's eyes twinkled mysteriously. "Just saying it isn't enough! I've played matchmaker for you and Yueya'er, but I want you to promise me one thing."

Lin Wanrong puffed out his chest, speaking righteously, "Sister, just say the word. I'll go through fire and water for you!"

"I can't tell you now," An Biru giggled. "I need to fulfill a wish for someone. You'll find out when we return to the Miao village. Heh, you're such a lucky little rascal!"

Master Sister was being mysterious, and Lin Wanrong had no idea what she was planning. He shook his head with a wry smile.

The wives he had taken, from Qingxuan, the Fairy, Master Sister, to Yueya'er, each was more cunning and intelligent than the last. He wondered what a lively scene it would be when they all gathered together. The thought made him increasingly look forward to it.

"Little brother, when you go to Goryeo, when will you be able to return?" An Biru held his hand, asking softly.

The war was over, and his wife had been brought home. Once the affairs in Goryeo were settled, all would be well. He grinned and nodded, "I'll take a sea voyage there. I'll definitely be back before the New Year. Sister, why don't you come along for fun?"

An Biru shook her head with a smile, "That foreign land doesn't interest me. I want to go to Thousand-Forsake Peak to pay respects to my sect and visit your Fairy Sister. We'll reminisce and wait for you to return on the mountain."

Lin Wanrong was startled and hurriedly asked, "Master Sister, you... you won't fight with the Fairy, will you?"

"What do you think?" Master Sister gave him a coquettish look, her smile utterly enchanting.

Lin Wanrong shook his head with a rueful smile. What would happen when Vixen An and Fairy Ning met was anyone's guess. Things were different now; they shared the same husband, closer than ever. He just hoped that if they fought in the future, it wouldn't be too outrageous, at least for the sake of his dignity.

Having left the grasslands, Lin Wanrong traveled through the night and headed southeast, arriving at the border of Shanxi and Hebei. It was in Yangquan where he bid a reluctant farewell to An Biru, who turned towards the capital. He, intending to set sail from Donggang in Rizhao, continued eastward and soon reached the boundaries of Jining in Shandong.

Jining was where his fortune began, a place of countless cherished memories on Weishan Lake. He knew it as well as the back of his hand. Entering the city, he saw bustling streets and markets, a stark contrast to the desolation of the past, now thriving and prosperous.

Approaching the dilapidated Government Mansion, he hadn't yet drawn near when he heard an excited call, "Big Brother!" Looking closely, it was Miss Luo, like the wind in her light steps, joyously rushing toward him.

"Ning'er!" Lin Wanrong laughed heartily, lifting her delicate frame into a whirl of joy.

Luo Ning, flushed and heart racing, said, "Big Brother, why have you only just arrived? We've been waiting for you for several days! Did the Golden Blade Khan not let you leave? Hehe!"

Lin Wanrong's face warmed, and he quickly asked, "Ning'er, did Qiaoqiao, the Eldest Miss, and the others come? I specifically had Old Gao send word for you all to wait for me in Jining. The war in Goryeo is over, and the Dongyin have retreated. We can take this opportunity to travel!"

Luo Ning giggled, "Officer Gao conveyed your message from the Miao village to the capital, saying you'd head to Goryeo from the grasslands and asked us to wait for you in Jining! But, Big Brother, I fear you'll be disappointed this time."

"Why?" Lin Wanrong asked, puzzled.

"Because everyone is busy!" Miss Luo counted on her fingers, "Ever since Zheng'er and Xuan'er's full-month celebration, the Emperor summoned the two princesses and the children to the palace, and they can't leave for even a moment. With the princesses in the palace, all Lin family matters fell to Qiaoqiao. Yushuang is increasingly taking over the Xiao family's affairs, too busy to leave. The Eldest Miss did think of expanding business in Goryeo and came to Jining with me but has temporarily returned to Jinling to visit the Madam."

"The Eldest Miss came?" His heart finally felt a thrill of excitement, then he remembered something, "What about you, Ning'er? Weren't you the one most eager to go to Goryeo?"

"Of course, I wanted to go, or why would I be here?" Luo Ning huffed, her cheeks turning a bridal red. "But I didn't expect—"

She stopped mid-sentence, her brow furrowing as she turned and bent over, starting to retch.

"Ning'er, what's—?" Lin Wanrong exclaimed in alarm.

"Big Brother, I can't go to Goryeo!" Luo Ning nestled joyfully into his embrace, "Because, there's a little treasure in my belly."

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