Qu Fulan had not glanced sideways since entering Mrs. Pei's room, instead keeping her eyes firmly fixed on the floor, behaving with exemplary decorum.
Yueyuan occasionally glanced back to see her downcast and compliant, and felt a mix of satisfaction and surprise.
The larger the household, the more emphasis is placed on decorum and propriety. Yet, small servants who haven't seen much of the world often can't resist looking around curiously when entering the master's room, lacking any sense of decorum; such people can't hope for much success.
It was unexpected that this little girl could be so composed, which explained why she could treat Mrs. Pei's illness with such calm amidst being beaten into such a state.
As Yueyuan pondered, they reached Mrs. Pei's bedside.
Qu Fulan saluted and greeted Mrs. Pei, still with her eyes downcast, without looking directly at her.
Mrs. Pei raised her eyes and, seeing the other's proper appearance, couldn't help but say, "Raise your eyes and let me have a look. What's your name?"
Only then did Qu Fulan lift her eyes to look at the elderly lady she had seen earlier.
Mrs. Pei was slightly plump, with a face radiating fortune, and looked rather kind, though a major illness had left her somewhat haggard.
Qu Fulan replied, "In response to Mrs. Pei, this servant's name is Haitang."
The original owner was named Li Jirou, but after becoming a servant girl, her name was changed to Haitang.
Mrs. Pei asked, "What did your family do previously?"
Qu Fulan replied, "This servant's family ran a clinic. From a young age, I was exposed to it with my father and picked up some basics, having treated people before. The symptoms Mrs. Pei experienced recently were something I had encountered before, hence I dared to try."
Mrs. Pei asked again, "Where are your parents now?"
Qu Fulan lowered her gaze, "They have passed away."
Mrs. Pei remained silent for a moment before saying, "No wonder you were sold into a Death Contract, it's really pitiful."
Qu Fulan did not tell the truth, nor could she afford to.
The original owner was the daughter of an official, forced into servitude due to family troubles, a fact she couldn't reveal. Otherwise, bearing the identity of a criminal slave, she could forget about turning her life around in this lifetime.
After the original owner was sold at the slave market, the only person who knew her identity was the initial broker. To sell the slave at a good price, any information about her criminal slave status would be erased, and she would be classified as homeless.
Therefore, the current Qu Fulan had a blank background and could fabricate her story as she pleased.
Although Mrs. Pei found Haitang pitiable, and she had saved her life, her only thought was to reward her with money as compensation. Releasing her from contract was not something Mrs. Pei considered.
It's not that Mrs. Pei was not enlightened or deliberately holding onto people; it's just that historically, the Pei Mansion only released servants with living contracts, not Death Contracts. These were old ancestral precedents, and a servant with a Death Contract followed the master for life, and she couldn't make an exception now.
Qu Fulan understood this. In ancient times, social hierarchy was not something resolved by treating an illness. Overnight success was only found in legends, nothing in the world was that easy.
Her plans and strategies were not this simple; she had more schemes yet to be unveiled and would have to proceed step by step; haste was useless.
Given the current situation, Mrs. Pei would at most have a favorable impression of her, maybe reward her handsomely, and that would be it.
Afterwards, whether Mrs. Pei would remember her was uncertain, as Mrs. Pei met so many people daily, she could forget her in the blink of an eye.
If that was the case, everything she did would not only be in vain but subject her to even crazier ridicule and mockery from her peers.
The saying "The bird that sticks its neck out gets shot" was this very logic.
Either don't stand out, or if you do stand out, ensure it hits the mark.
So, Qu Fulan seized the moment to ask Mrs. Pei a question, one linked to her potential promotion.
"This servant notices Mrs. Pei's eyes look tired, and her expression downcast. Coupled with Mrs. Pei's condition, this servant dares to ask, do you have trouble sleeping, experiencing long-term insomnia?"
Mrs. Pei looked at Qu Fulan with surprise, but didn't speak. Instead, she glanced at the doctor beside her.
Since he was a doctor raised by the Pei Mansion, he naturally knew all of Mrs. Pei's symptoms thoroughly.
The doctor replied on Mrs. Pei's behalf, "Indeed, Mrs. Pei suffers from poor sleep nine times out of ten throughout a year, her ailments relapsing due to this. I've tried every means, but couldn't improve Mrs. Pei's insomnia symptoms. Upon hearing your words, do you have a solution?"
Qu Fulan said, "My mother also suffered long from insomnia. This servant tried every means and finally developed a prescription that can improve insomnia symptoms. After my mother used it, her sleep improved. If Mrs. Pei doesn't mind, I'm willing to offer the prescription."
Only those who have been sleepless for a long time understand the feeling.
Qu Fulan herself had been in a state of insomnia for a long period, relying on medication to sleep. Because this medication was a prescription drug, she went to the hospital every so often for a refill, and the doctors wondered if she intended to stockpile them for suicide.
But that wasn't the case; it was just that during that period, all sorts of events intertwined, leaving her mentally and physically exhausted, overwhelmed by pressure. She needed medication to fall asleep, but later even the medication became ineffective, which was truly a frustrating thing.
The saying goes, "A long illness makes the patient a doctor." Moreover, she already had medical skills passed down from her grandfather, and she began to focus on researching ways to improve insomnia symptoms.
Indeed, she eventually developed a prescription that improved her insomnia symptoms.
For those suffering from insomnia, death could be a relief, while the torment of insomnia every minute and second was the most grueling.
She believed Mrs. Pei understood this feeling of life being worse than death.
The reason for Mrs. Pei's insomnia had been mentioned in the text.
The most promising family of the Pei Family was stationed at the border to defend it, and news of border conflicts kept reaching the capital.
Mrs. Pei worried about the family of her eldest son, especially her grandson, Pei Ji'an.
With old age and a lot of worries, and being in a position of wealth, having nothing to do all day made insomnia even more expected.
Later, when the Heir Pei returned, Mrs. Pei's "heart medicine" also returned, and her insomnia completely vanished.
Mrs. Pei was indeed interested in Qu Fulan's prescription, "Is it certain to be effective?"
Qu Fulan said, "My mother found it effective, and later I used this prescription on others with success as well, but everyone's constitution is different. I can't guarantee it will be effective for Mrs. Pei. You may let someone test the medication first, and only decide after observing the effect."
Testing the medication was necessary to ensure the prescription's safety.
Qu Fulan's prescription was quickly taken by the doctor for examination, with each ingredient being tested and repeatedly confirmed for safety before being used.
In broad daylight, they found three or four young men and women in excellent mental condition and had them consume Qu Fulan's prescription.
They also found an older person with insomnia to take the medication.
Qu Fulan actually had great confidence in her prescription, but the result made her furrow her brow.