Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 480 - 316 Is There an Antidote

Gu Chengyu carried Hua Lian to the bed, and seeing her forehead already dotted with fragrant sweat, he was at a loss for what to do.

Suddenly, he remembered the Clear Heart Pill he had made in his space; he wondered if it might work against this aphrodisiac. Gu Chengyu took out a porcelain bottle from his space, poured out two pills, and placed them in Hua Lian’s mouth.

This elixir didn’t dissolve immediately in the mouth but needed to be taken with water. Gu Chengyu thought about it and had to put Hua Lian down first to get the teapot from the table.

Gu Chengyu returned, picked up Hua Lian, and poured tea into her mouth. As a result, half the tea was swallowed, while the other half spilled onto Hua Lian’s chest, soaking her. Gu Chengyu left her there without tidying up and just placed her back on the bed.

After administering the elixir to Hua Lian, if it worked, it should take some time to counteract the drug’s effects.

Gu Chengyu covered Hua Lian with the quilt, then sat down to carefully observe her complexion. After a short while, not only was Hua Lian’s body drenched with fragrant sweat, but even Gu Chengyu’s forehead was beading with sweat.

Suddenly, he thought, since the brothel had aphrodisiacs, maybe they had antidotes!

Opening the door, Gu Chengyu glanced outside and happened to see a prostitute coming up the stairs. Wasn’t this the same prostitute who had led him here before? At that moment, he was holding a tray with some wine and dishes, presumably delivering them to the room next door.

"Hey, brother!" Gu Chengyu beckoned to him, calling the prostitute over.

The prostitute noticed Gu Chengyu pointing at him and found it odd. Seeing Gu Chengyu still dressed neatly, even his hair unruffled, he discreetly glanced at Gu Chengyu’s lower area, making Gu Chengyu’s face darken with embarrassment.

This prostitute surely knew Madam Hua had given Hua Lian an aphrodisiac; otherwise, he wouldn’t have hesitated when Gu Chengyu initially asked him to bring Hua Lian over.

The prostitute, though puzzled as to why Gu Chengyu wanted him over during this short-lived, passionate night, still carried the tray over to him.

"Mr. Gu, is there anything you need from me?"

The prostitute bowed and scraped to Gu Chengyu; a little silver leaking from these gentlemen’s fingertips was equivalent to his monthly salary.

"Come closer, I want to ask you, what did you give Hua Lian to take? Is there an antidote?" Gu Chengyu felt a headache just mentioning this; he didn’t know how potent this aphrodisiac was or if it would harm the body.

The prostitute paused for a moment, bewildered, "Medicine?"

Gu Chengyu frowned, urging, "Is there an antidote?"

The prostitute chuckled wryly, "Mr. Gu, there’s no antidote for the aphrodisiac; we don’t have one in Tianxiang Pavilion either!"

The prostitute struggled to understand Gu Chengyu’s actions; if he didn’t like Hua Lian, why did he redeem her?

Gu Chengyu finally realized the trouble, "Then go to the front and find Mr. Zhu, tell him not to wait for me, and to head back first."

He took out two taels of silver from his pocket and asked the prostitute to inform Zhu Pang at the front; he couldn’t leave Hua Lian like this.

If he’s going to help someone, he should go all the way. Since he redeemed her, he couldn’t just leave her unattended, otherwise, if someone took advantage, it would cause trouble.

The prostitute happily accepted Gu Chengyu’s silver, "Alright! Mr. Gu, rest assured, I will deliver the wine to the room next door and then inform Mr. Zhu for you."

Gu Chengyu nodded, suddenly thinking of Xi Yan. Being a man, taking care of Hua Lian was indeed inconvenient, so it would be better to have Xi Yan help.

Thinking of this, Gu Chengyu turned back and glanced at Hua Lian, seeing her flushed face seemed to have softened a bit, indicating the Clear Heart Pill was having an effect. Gu Chengyu breathed a sigh of relief and went to the doorway of the room, calling out to the prostitute again as he saw him.

"Wait!"

"Mr. Gu, is there anything else you need?"

"Go invite Miss Xi Yan to come over, tell her I have a favor to ask." Gu Chengyu said this, and the prostitute’s expression became even more peculiar.

The prostitute was puzzled, what did Mr. Gu want with Xi Yan? He peered through the door, only seeing the green curtains of the bed with no movement inside; he hesitated. Mr. Gu’s motives were unclear. Miss Xi Yan was Tianxiang Pavilion’s top girl and could not afford any mistakes.

"But Mr. Gu, Miss Xi Yan is resting..." The prostitute looked troubled, pulling a pained expression toward Gu Chengyu.

"Just go and ask, do you think I would dare make a mess in Tianxiang Pavilion?" Gu Chengyu felt a bit speechless; did he look like a lecherous fiend?

He pulled out another five taels of silver from his pocket and handed it to the prostitute.

Seeing five taels of silver, the prostitute swallowed hard. No matter how generous the gentlemen coming to Tianxiang Pavilion were, it was mainly aimed at the girls; those like him who were looked down upon even when rewarded wouldn’t get more than one tael.

Gu Chengyu noticed the prostitute’s delay in taking the silver and thought perhaps he was dissatisfied by the amount. He frowned, the greed of Tianxiang Pavilion’s prostitutes was too much; even a tip of five taels seemed lacking.

Then, he pulled another five taels from his pocket and placed them into the prostitute’s hand.

The prostitute was stunned; he had just thought five taels were too much, now receiving another five.

"Alright, I’ll immediately go invite Miss Xi Yan for Mr. Gu." The prostitute quickly pocketed the silver and ran downstairs.

Gu Chengyu returned to the room, seeing the blush on Hua Lian’s face receding, finally putting his mind at ease. He surveyed Hua Lian’s dressing table and noticed a box, a peach wood comb, and other items like a box of Jade Girl Powder and rouge. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

It seemed that before hosting guests, the brothel didn’t provide many accessories for the girls, except for the Oiran.

Xi Yan was recalling the tune Green Jade Case, wanting to practice it to perfection lest she forget it. This melody would be her future signature tune; just hearing this tune would remind people of Tianxiang Pavilion’s Oiran and the famous Mr. Gu in the Capital.

Having just practiced the piece, Hua Lian was now somewhat distracted. Gu Chengyu had chosen Hua Lian today; he was probably cozying up with Hua Lian. Ultimately, Hua Lian got her wish.

Xi Yan felt an infinite melancholy in her heart; if only she hadn’t been a brothel girl, how wonderful? The distance between them felt like a thousand miles, Hua Lian achieved her desire, but what about her own, what should she do?

Distraught, Xi Yan played a few notes wrong and snapped back to reality. She stopped playing altogether, thinking how could she play well with a muddled heart?

Looking at the poem Gu Chengyu sent her on the table, she grabbed the sheet music in her hands again. Her fingertips traced the robust characters, staring absently at the lyrics.

"Miss, a prostitute just conveyed that Mr. Gu requests you to visit Hua Lian’s room, he said it was a favor."

Hongzhuang hurriedly entered the room, seeing her Miss holding the sheet music, her thoughts wandering far away.

Hongzhuang sighed, knowing well her Miss’s feelings; but ultimately they were brothel girls, and her Miss’s beauty was unmatched. Even if Mr. Gu wanted to redeem her, Madam Hua would not allow it.

Unless after a couple of years, when she turns eighteen, could Mr. Gu wait until then? By that time, a new Oiran would be chosen while she passed the age of allure, everyone loves novelty and despises the old. Her fate wouldn’t be any better than the other girls in the brothel.