Li Man'er looked at Li Qingshu with a smile, "Aunt, if you have something to say, just say it. I'm not a child anymore."
Li Qingshu thought for a moment and asked in the gentlest tone, "Man'er, have you ever thought about what you will do in the future?"
Li Man'er smiled. Compared to the other members of the Li family, Li Qingshu was indeed quite good. She saw things more clearly and was better at weighing pros and cons. Perhaps it was because she had lived in the deep palace for a long time that her feelings for the Li family were weaker, and she cared more about herself.
Li Qingshu was the most important piece in her future plan, and her cooperation was also very important, but some things could not be said yet.
"Aunt, my mother's matter is in the past. I am getting married at the end of the year. From now on, I will be a married woman, and the Li family's future will have nothing to do with me."
Just as Li Qingshu was about to say something, she heard Li Man'er say, "I don't care about my reputation. Besides, the reason I am estranged from the Li family is clear to everyone, and I don't think anyone will blame me. As for the Li family's future, the Marquis can still last a few more years. When the heir is older, he will naturally inherit the title. Of course, my third uncle is in Mo Bei, holding a high position and power, and is even more favored by His Majesty. I'm afraid the family will be divided in the future. However, this has nothing to do with me!"
Li Qingshu was helpless. It seemed that Li Man'er didn't care about the rise and fall of the family at all.
It's not her fault. Anyone who had suffered so much injustice would probably not be able to bear it. Li Man'er had a rebellious spirit. If it weren't for the fact that they all shared the surname Li, she would have annihilated the entire Li family.
Now, it could be considered that she had shown mercy.
"Alright!" Li Qingshu understood her mood and knew that it would be inappropriate to continue.
Li Man'er left the palace and headed straight for the Iron Gallbladder Marquis's mansion.
Li Shu eagerly awaited the third pill every day, his eyes almost popping out. Finally, Li Man'er arrived, and he wanted to take the medicine quickly.
Li Man'er took his pulse, then dissolved the pill into water and had someone feed it to Li Shu.
Li Shu waited and waited. After a long time, he found that there was no change.
His hands no longer trembled, and he no longer drooled, but he still couldn't speak, nor could he run and jump like a normal person.
He glared at Li Man'er, as if saying, "You lied to me."
"Why are you glaring at me, Marquis? Have I made a mistake in treating you?"
Li Shu struggled to express his thoughts, but he couldn't even utter a complete word, let alone anything else.
But Li Man'er understood him and immediately grasped his meaning, "You mean, you took the medicine, and it had no effect."
"Ah, ah!" Li Shu blinked vigorously, indicating that she was correct.
Li Man'er smiled, "This is normal. After all, your pill is a defective product of poor quality. His Majesty is taking the genuine article. The efficacy of a defective product is naturally discounted. What are you dissatisfied about?"
Li Shu's eyes widened, as if asking Li Man'er why she gave him a defective product and how she dared to do so!
"Why do you think His Majesty bestowed the medicine? To be blunt, you are nothing more than a test subject, similar to an imperial taster."
Those serving Li Shu wished they could bury their heads in their laps. Was this something he could say? The county princess left, and shortly after, I would be dragged out to be fed to the dogs.
Li Man'er waved her hand, clearly intending to let him off the hook. This servant was quite clever and immediately lowered his head and left, holding onto a sliver of hope that the county princess would not remember his face, as he was so ordinary-looking.
Li Shu's breathing became rapid, clearly furious.
"What His Majesty takes is naturally excellent, and if he doesn't have people test the medicine, how will he know if it's effective! As a subject of His Majesty, you eat his salary and serve him loyally. Even if your body is crippled, you should be happy that you can still be useful."
Li Shu's face turned red, as if he hated Li Man'er to the core.
Li Man'er was not annoyed. She chuckled and looked down at him, "I just like that you can't stand me but can't do anything about it. Li Shu, your suffering has only just begun."
After speaking, Li Man'er no longer looked at Li Shu and turned to leave.
Li Shu let out a beast-like roar. He wanted to grab Li Man'er back, to ask her for an explanation, but unfortunately, he couldn't say a single word.
In the palace, Emperor Chenghua put down his brush and closed the memorial in his hand. He took a sip of tea from the bowl handed to him by a young eunuch.
Eunuch Xia walked in, "Your Majesty..."
Emperor Chenghua put down his teacup, "She's back?"
Eunuch Xia winked, and the eunuchs attending in the hall filed out one by one. After they had all left, he walked to Emperor Chenghua's side and whispered a few words.
Emperor Chenghua seemed satisfied, "Hmm, I see. When will Master Du'e emerge from seclusion?"
Eunuch Xia said, "Your Majesty, when the Master entered seclusion, he instructed that his emergence would depend on the heavenly secrets, without specifying a date. Your servant believes that this seclusion is of great importance and may be different from the usual."
Emperor Chenghua nodded, "Then the heavenly secrets are not to be revealed. Xia Ruhai, escort me to Qitai Palace to see Consort Rong."
"Yes!" Eunuch Xia did not dare to delay and quickly made arrangements.
Meanwhile, on a desolate mountain thousands of miles away, a great monk was sleeping in a cave.
Beside him was a young novice monk, who was chattering incessantly about something.
The great monk was annoyed by him and suddenly sat up from the pile of dry grass, "Do you think this old monk wants to live in this dilapidated place? I was forced into it. This is the way of heaven; what can this old monk do?"
The young novice monk didn't understand, "Master, didn't you say you were going into seclusion? You couldn't seclude yourself in the temple, so why did you have to come so far?"
"What do you know?" Master Du'e looked in the direction of the capital and muttered, "That was the last time I saw him, do you understand?"
This is the way of heaven; what does it matter if one is the Son of Heaven?
The Son of Heaven is ultimately a mortal. Human life cannot contend with heaven.
Time flew by, and it was suddenly July, the hottest season of the year.
Despite her poor health, Madam Su insisted on taking a boat to the capital.
Li Man'er received the news and sent people to wait at the pier every day. On the tenth day of July, she finally waited for the old madam.
Madam Su had been in poor health for years and had been struggling to hold on. A while ago, the Ning family received news that Li Man'er had found Ning Daocheng, and Madam Su had fainted several times. After recuperating for several months, her health had improved somewhat, and only then did she set off for the capital.
She missed her youngest son and couldn't wait a moment longer.
The servants of the County Princess's mansion received the old madam and did not dare to delay for a moment, quickly escorting her to the mansion.
The arduous journey by boat and carriage had taken its toll on Madam Su's health. If it weren't for her strong will, she would have likely died on the way.
Li Man'er had already prepared silver needles and medicinal tea, waiting for the old madam to arrive.