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"What?! Two hundred thousand taels of gold?!" After leaving his post, Prime Minister Meng heard the news and his eyes widened like giant bronze bells.
The Su family really knows how to ask for the moon—aren't they afraid their tongues will get twisted by the wind?
Asking for half of his fortune just to treat an illness—how is that any different from asking for half his life?
Lady Zhao added fuel to the fire: "Master, I've seen how close your precious eldest daughter is with Miss Su—they're practically inseparable. When Miss Su came to treat Lady Meng, she didn't charge a single coin and even gifted us a century-old ginseng. But now, when it's Yun'er's turn, they're demanding an outrageous sum!"
Prime Minister Meng frowned. "Didn't Rou'er try to say something on our behalf?"
"Say what? She secretly invited them to treat her mother, afraid we'd find out! If I hadn't been keeping an eye on things and acted quickly to intercept Miss Su, we probably wouldn't have even been able to meet her!"
Prime Minister Meng's face darkened.
When he asked her to invite Miss Su to treat Yun'er, she refused, saying she didn't want to force her friend.
But when it came to treating her own mother, suddenly it wasn't forcing anymore!
This was clearly her way of making Yun'er suffer. How could he have raised such a malicious daughter?
Fuming, Prime Minister Meng stormed out.
Lady Zhao watched his retreating figure, lips curling into a smug smile.
"Meng Zhi Rou! You ungrateful daughter, come out here this instant!"
Meng Zhi Rou, who had been helping Lady Qu drink her medicine, trembled so much she nearly dropped the bowl.
Lady Qu patted her daughter's hand gently. "Don't be afraid."
Prime Minister Meng barged in angrily. "I told you to come out—didn't you hear me?"
Meng Zhi Rou replied softly, "Father, once Mother finishes her medicine, I'll come out."
"Come out now! I have something to ask you!"
Lady Qu wiped her lips and spoke coldly. "Whatever you want to ask, ask here. Rou'er isn't leaving."
Truthfully, Prime Minister Meng felt a bit intimidated by Lady Qu.
Though gentle, Lady Qu surpassed him in family background and knowledge.
Prime Minister Meng couldn't stand women who were better than him.
"I… I just wanted to ask her why she didn't speak up and persuade Miss Su to lower the fee when she demanded so much to treat Yun'er."
Lady Qu sneered. "Whether or not Rou'er speaks up is her own choice. Besides, even if she did, Miss Su might not listen. If you think it's too expensive, then don't treat her!"
Prime Minister Meng scowled. "Is that something a lady of the household should say? What do you mean, 'don't treat her'? Haven't you seen how much pain Yun'er is in? If it were Rou'er in this situation, would you still say such a thing? You're her nominal mother—at least act like one! With such a high medical fee, you should contribute as well!"
Hearing this absurd logic, Lady Qu laughed derisively.
"You finally remember that I'm the lady of this house, her nominal mother? Tell me, has she ever treated me as a mother? Has she ever paid respects morning and evening? Has she ever served me a single dose of medicine? Since she doesn't see me as her mother, why should I pay to treat her?"
Prime Minister Meng was left speechless.
This was exactly what he hated about Lady Qu—she never backed down and always made him lose face!
Lady Qu continued, "Oh, and while we're at it, I just remembered something. When I married you with a ten-mile-long dowry procession, all those assets went straight into the family treasury. Have Concubine Zhao tally them up and return everything to me—it's all part of Rou'er's dowry!"
Prime Minister Meng mocked her. "You're the daughter of a great Confucian scholar. Isn't it shameful to care so much about worldly possessions? Won't people laugh at your father's reputation?"
Lady Qu sneered. "I've just realized—what good is a reputation? It can't be eaten or worn; it's nothing but a shackle. How can fame compare to these material things? Besides, they're mine to begin with. You think you're so noble—you, who live off these very possessions! Haven't you done countless immoral deeds over the years chasing after these same worldly goods? Do you even have the right to mention my father? Tch!"
Seeing Lady Qu acting so unlike herself, Prime Minister Meng was utterly stunned.
Though she had always been strong-willed, she had never spoken so sharply before.
He glanced around nervously and lowered his voice. "Did you eat gunpowder today? Do you realize what you're saying?"
"What part? That you've done immoral deeds? Scared now?"
Prime Minister Meng flicked his sleeve. "Unreasonable woman!"
With that, he turned and left, looking every bit like someone fleeing in defeat.
It wasn't just Prime Minister Meng—even Meng Zhi Rou was dumbfounded.
"Mother…"
Lady Qu spoke tenderly. "What's wrong? Did I scare you?"
Meng Zhi Rou shook her head. "No, I just thought you looked beautiful earlier."
She imagined seeing her mother's proud and noble demeanor before marriage.
Lady Qu coughed lightly and smiled. "After saying all that, I feel much better."
Meng Zhi Rou grinned. "Not once did you cough during all that."
Hearing the laughter from inside the room, Prime Minister Meng turned back.
Through the window, he saw Lady Qu smiling radiantly and froze for a moment.
If only Lady Qu weren't so stubborn, she'd still be considered a beauty.
Shaking his head, he decided against returning to Lady Zhao's courtyard and instead headed straight for his study.
Meanwhile, Lady Zhao waited anxiously but saw no sign of him returning. Upon inquiry, she learned he had gone to the study.
"Honestly, Master, how can you focus on work at a time like this? Let's go to the study."
At the study, Lady Zhao pushed open the door.
Prime Minister Meng looked up, already feeling a headache coming on.
"Master, we can't delay the payment! Our daughter can't wait!" Lady Zhao got straight to the point.
Prime Minister Meng snapped coldly, "Where am I supposed to find two hundred thousand taels of gold?"
Lady Zhao knew exactly how deep—or shallow—the family coffers were.
Seeing his reluctance, she burst into tears.
"Master! Yun'er is our only hope! Look at how much she's suffering—you can't abandon us! You're her father…"
His head throbbed painfully as she wailed.
Just then, a maid rushed in to report: "Master, Lady Zhao, Second Miss has woken up again!"
Prime Minister Meng's headache worsened.
Lady Zhao cried even louder.
For days, their daughter had been waking up only to thrash about in agony, screaming uncontrollably. The medicine prescribed by doctors did nothing to ease the pain or itching, and each time she passed out from sheer torment. Watching this, Lady Zhao felt as though her heart were being sliced apart.
"That's enough! Stop crying! Fine, I'll pay the fee!" Prime Minister Meng bellowed, unable to take it anymore.
If he didn't pay, there would be no peace in this household.
Lady Zhao immediately stopped crying.
"Then, Master, prepare the fee first while I go check on Yun'er."
...
"Miss! The Right Minister's residence sent over several huge chests of gold! Miss, come take a look!" Zhi Shu's voice brimmed with excitement.
Good heavens, she had never seen so much gold in her life!
Su Li raised an eyebrow.
So soon? She thought she'd have to wait a few more days.
It seemed Lady Zhao and Meng Zhi Yun held quite a special place in the Right Minister's heart.
In the main hall, a sea of yellow gold gleamed.
The servants from the Right Minister's residence bowed respectfully as she entered.
"Miss Su, here are two hundred thousand taels of gold. Please count them."
Su Li smiled. "No need to count. I trust the Right Minister wouldn't joke about Second Miss's condition. Go back and tell your master that I'll visit tomorrow to treat her."
"Yes, Miss. I'll take my leave."
Once they were gone, Madam Su approached her. "Li'er, what is…"
"Mother, the Right Minister's concubine-born daughter has fallen ill. They want me to examine her. This is the medical fee."
Madam Su's eyes widened in shock.
"The fee is so high?"
Su Li chuckled faintly. "The Right Minister is generous."
Looking at the gold, she now had enough to open her shop and buy golden-thread charcoal.
...
The next day, Su Li arrived at the Right Minister's residence as promised.
"Miss Su, please come in. Yun'er is inside." Lady Zhao greeted her warmly and led her in.
"The imperial physicians examined her and said it's intestinal rot poisoning. Yun'er has been screaming in pain and itching nonstop. The medicine prescribed hasn't worked, so we had no choice but to restrain her."
Su Li smirked. How could anyone else possibly counteract her poison?
She stepped forward to examine Meng Zhi Yun, who lay unconscious, clearly having fainted from the pain.
Looking at the disfigured body tied up like a dumpling, Su Li remained calm.
"Lady Zhao, I can cure the intestinal rot, but the skin on her face and body has rotted too severely. It won't heal completely, and scars will remain."
Lady Zhao shrieked, "What?! Aren't you a divine physician? If you can't restore her appearance, why demand such a high fee?"
Su Li responded coldly, "It's your choice whether to proceed or not. You can also take the fee back."
At that moment, Meng Zhi Yun woke up.
Days of relentless pain and itching had driven her nearly mad, causing her to scream and struggle wildly.
Lady Zhao shouted, "Quick, hold her down! Yun'er! Wake up! It's me, your mother!"
For a brief moment, Meng Zhi Yun regained clarity.
"Mother? Mother! Kill me! I can't bear it anymore! Mother…"
Lady Zhao sobbed, "You're my only daughter. Don't worry, you'll get better."
Turning back, Lady Zhao gritted her teeth. "Miss Su, administer the antidote!"
Su Li nodded. "Very well. Once the antidote takes effect, the sores will scab over without pain or itching. Though her appearance won't recover, wearing clothes and a veil will make her indistinguishable from before."
Wasn't she mocked as the ugliest face in Tianqi? Now she could sit comfortably in that position and experience its true meaning!
Lady Zhao glanced at her deformed daughter and reluctantly nodded.
Su Li said, "Step outside for now. I'll begin by applying acupuncture to remove the toxins."
Once everyone left, Su Li swiftly injected Meng Zhi Yun with a sedative, fed her a pill, then sat back in a chair nearby.
After about the time it took to drink a cup of tea, she exited the room.
Lady Zhao hesitated. "That's… it? Is she cured?"
Su Li handed her a prescription.
"Have her take this medicine for three days, and the poison will be neutralized."
Lady Zhao took the prescription and hurriedly ordered someone to fetch the ingredients.
Once everything was settled, Su Li left the Right Minister's residence with Si Qin.
"Miss, acquiring two hundred thousand taels of gold was far too easy," Si Qin said with a grin.
Su Li chuckled. "To Meng Zhi Yun, the Right Minister is a good father."
Si Qin nodded but sighed. "But isn't this unfair to Elder Miss Meng?"
"In this world, what's fair or unfair?"