Li Man'er glanced sideways, only then realizing they were in a very safe corner.
At least four people were stationed by Qi Yihan. If anyone unwelcome appeared, his men should give a warning or simply drive the person away.
Truly overbearing.
"Does Your Highness have business with me?"
Qi Yihan asked, "I heard you went to the palace recently and met the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."
"Yes! Originally, the Empress Dowager summoned this humble daughter to the palace to inquire about the broken engagement. After a brief chat, I went to see Consort Shu. I found that Her Highness's health was greatly depleted, so I stayed in the palace for a few days to help her recuperate."
Li Man'er spoke the truth, without any embellishment. As for meeting the Emperor, she was too lazy to explain, nor did she believe Qi Yihan would ask.
The Ninth Prince seemed uninterested in her meeting the Emperor, only saying, "I need to leave the capital for a while. Before I go, could I trouble you to treat me?"
The original plan was to have a consultation once every two months, but Qi Yihan feared the蛊毒 (gu poison) might act up prematurely, which was why he had come to the Li residence under the pretext of delivering an imperial decree.
Li Man'er suddenly understood.
"It's not impossible, but my mother's funeral still needs to be managed for some time. I wonder if Your Highness can wait?" No wonder he had people guarding. Such an important matter should indeed not be publicized.
"I cannot wait."
Li Man'er was annoyed. Qi Yihan's eternally unchanging, impassive expression made her teeth itch.
"If Your Highness cannot wait, this humble daughter is also helpless! As for the herbal decoction, that's fine, but acupuncture cannot be done by others!" Li Man'er said, as if pouting. "I also need to observe mourning for my mother, so it's inconvenient to go to the Princess's mansion. If Your Highness can find a solution, just send someone to inform this humble daughter."
Feeling bored, she rolled up the imperial decree in her hand and held it with one hand.
Qi Yihan acted as if he hadn't seen it. "I do have a solution."
Li Man'er patiently forced a smile. "Your Highness, please speak. I am listening!"
"Every night, I..." Qi Yihan seemed a bit embarrassed and hesitated before saying, "Every night, I will come to your chamber late at night, um, then, you can give me acupuncture."
Li Man'er looked as if she had heard the biggest joke. Her almond eyes widened, and she couldn't help but say, "Is my hearing faulty, or did Your Highness misspeak?"
*Pfft~*
Someone among the guards couldn't help but let out a suppressed laugh. He was likely close enough to hear their conversation and couldn't hold back.
Even someone as battle-hardened and stoic as Qi Yihan felt embarrassed. He faltered slightly when faced with Li Man'er's question.
It was indeed difficult to say he would enter a lady's chamber late at night to undress for acupuncture, but who could have predicted Madam Guo's death so coincidentally? No matter what, Princess Wuyou wouldn't be able to welcome her out of the residence at such a time.
This was the only solution he could think of.
"I have no other way. Miss Li, you have a benevolent heart as a physician. Why must you only consider the distinction between men and women?"
Li Man'er was taken aback again. "So it's my fault? Your Highness truly has a silver tongue. It's a waste of talent not to be a storyteller at the teahouse."
This time, there were no unusual sounds. The guard who had laughed earlier covered his mouth tightly with his hand.
"Of course, there will be a consultation fee. Miss Li can make any request, and I will owe you a favor."
Li Man'er held up two slender fingers. "Then Your Highness owes me twice. Day after day, aren't you afraid you won't be able to repay it in the future?"
Qi Yihan's gaze was deep, making it impossible to tell if he was pleased or displeased. "If Miss Li has any needs, please do not hesitate to state them."
"Alright!" Li Man'er said. "I agree, but I can't do it these few days. If Your Highness is not in a hurry, you might as well wait until after my mother's burial."
The weather was hot, and bodies couldn't be kept for long. Usually, they were buried within three days. However, after a month of white mourning, the mourning attire had to be worn for a hundred days. After a hundred days, the mourning attire could be removed, but for someone of Li Man'er's status, she still had to observe three years of mourning for Madam Guo, abstaining from meat and fish, not marrying, and having no entertainment.
Well, ancient people didn't have much entertainment anyway.
"It's a deal," Qi Yihan said. He gave Li Man'er a slight nod and left on his own.
As soon as he left, the guards who had been stationed in the garden also departed. Li Man'er then took the imperial decree and headed towards Qingping Xuan.
Before she had walked a few steps, Li Man'er saw Ziyan waiting for her anxiously in the distance. The maid was so worried she had been pacing in circles. Seeing her arrive, Ziyan rushed over, looking so happy she was almost in tears.
"Miss, it's good that you're alright."
"What could happen to me? The Ninth Prince doesn't eat people."
Ziyan only said, "This servant was just scared." For some reason, she felt a chilling aura around the Ninth Prince. Even though she knew the Ninth Prince wouldn't harm a mere servant like her, she couldn't help but feel scared. Coupled with the rumors in the capital, she was even more afraid.
"It's alright. Just keep your mouth shut."
Ziyan nodded. "This servant understands. Miss can rest assured."
Master and servant returned to Qingping Xuan and placed the Empress Dowager's imperial decree in a place of honor. They heard that it had to be offered incense and bowed to eighty-one times before it could be taken down and stored.
What a hassle. It was just a piece of cloth, but because it bore the Empress Dowager's imperial seal, it became valuable!?
Truly...
There was nowhere to appeal.
Li Man'er washed her face again, drank some water, ate a little something, and then relieved herself before changing back into her mourning clothes. Accompanied by Nanny Wu and Ziyan, she went to the front courtyard.
In the mourning hall, others were already struggling to stay awake, slumped in various poses. It seemed like this task was truly grueling.
Li Zha'er, however, had persevered. For some reason, when Madam Guo was alive, this eldest daughter was incapable of lifting anything, wouldn't carry anything, cried when thirsty, and treated any slight as the end of the world. But after Madam Guo's death, she had matured rapidly. Though emaciated and appearing exceptionally fragile, for some reason, she gave the impression of having become much stronger.
One truly grows up only after weathering storms. Perhaps for Li Zha'er, this was not entirely a bad thing.
Li Man'er knelt back in her proper place. Li Zha'er snorted coldly, "Eldest Miss Li certainly has a grand demeanor. While Mother is still lying there, you still have the mood to wash and change clothes?"
She carried the freshness of having washed and a faint scent of soap, which was indeed different from the smell of having knelt all day and sweated profusely.
"What? Mother is dead, and that means others are not allowed to live? Besides, I was receiving an imperial decree from the Empress Dowager. How could I dare to be disrespectful? Of course, I had to wash and change. Would you have me wear mourning clothes? Are you afraid the Li family will die too slowly?"
"You..." Although Li Zha'er hated her, she didn't speak further. She probably didn't want to cause a scene in the mourning hall and make Madam Guo's departure even more unpleasant.
Just let you be smug for two more days!