Li Man'er was completely bewildered. Had she come to the Princess to hear empty flattery? What was the Princess Wuyou's intention in inviting her to her manor?
Before Li Man'er could ask, she heard Princess Wuyou say, "Miss Li, I have something to ask you."
"Your Highness, please speak."
Princess Wuyou walked to the side and invited Li Man'er to sit down. After they were seated, Princess Wuyou finally spoke, "The poison that Marquis Tiedan was afflicted with, was it truly resolved by your own hands, Miss?"
So, it was about this matter. It seemed the other party was indeed here for her medical skills.
"Yes!" Li Man'er had no intention of hiding anything. Her medical skills would be a crucial part of her comeback, so she naturally wanted to publicize them, lest others didn't believe her.
Princess Wuyou's eyes lit up, "Miss Li, you truly have great skill. I heard that Imperial Physician Duan wished to apprentice himself to you, but you refused. Why is that?"
Why was this Princess Wuyou so gossipy?
"Those were just a few words spoken in anger, how could they be taken seriously? I am still young, and Imperial Physician Duan is the Chief Imperial Physician, older than my father. How could he apprentice himself to me? If I had agreed, I would have been beaten by my father."
Princess Wuyou was stunned for a moment, then as if recalling something, she sighed gently, "Born into a family of high status, and yet a daughter would still be beaten?"
Uh...
Why wasn't this person acting according to the script? She was completely lost.
"When I was young, I was indeed spanked."
Princess Wuyou pursed her lips and smiled, not mentioning the matter further. "Imperial Physician Duan Xu's medical skills are already top-notch in the Imperial Academy. I never expected that a poison that stumped him could be resolved by you. You truly possess great skill."
"Your Highness is too kind." Li Man'er was about to suffer from social awkwardness. Why was the Princess constantly praising her? Even if she needed a favor, she wouldn't adopt this attitude. Their statuses were not equal, so there was no need for this.
It was just a matter of a few words.
Unless she couldn't cure it, Princess Wuyou's request, even if she refused, the Li family would make her agree.
"Those people outside, their words are getting more and more outrageous year by year, and what they say is very unpleasant. Don't you mind?"
"What people outside say is not important to me." It wasn't about her anyway.
Li Man'er then said, "Your Highness, may I ask what business you have calling me here alone?"
"Ah, yes, let's talk business." Princess Wuyou said, "My leg ailment has always troubled me, it frequently flares up, causing me unbearable pain. Could Miss take a look for me?"
Li Man'er hesitated, "Your Highness, I am here for a banquet today and was not prepared."
Princess Wuyou, however, clapped her hands with a smile. Immediately, someone pushed open the door, bringing diagnostic tools, various acupuncture needles, and the Four Treasures of the Study.
What else could she say?
Princess Wuyou waved her hand, and the servants bowed and left. The door was closed once more.
"Everything is prepared. You can begin to take my pulse, Your Highness." Princess Wuyou's voice suddenly turned cold, her attitude seeming to have done a 180-degree turn. The previous warmth had vanished, as if she had suddenly changed into someone else.
Could she have a split personality?
Li Man'er looked at the items on the table, then at the Princess, and finally said, "Your Highness, I don't think a pulse diagnosis is necessary, because Your Highness has no leg ailment at all."
"Presumptuous!" Princess Wuyou raised an eyebrow, her lips forming a straight line. "Are you implying that I am faking my illness?"
These subtle movements did not escape Li Man'er's eyes.
Everyone knew that Princess Wuyou's leg ailment was caused by a vow made for the Empress Dowager back then. If she wasn't ill, wouldn't those events from years ago become a joke? And how would the Empress Dowager position herself? She was the dignified Empress Dowager, the birth mother of the current emperor, and she too would become a joke?
"If Your Highness has a leg ailment, why would you meet me at the waterside pavilion? Even in summer, there is a chill near the water that ordinary people cannot feel. If Your Highness has a leg ailment, sitting here with the window open would surely exacerbate the old condition, not to mention you just ate cucumber, which is like adding cold to cold. Therefore, I speculate that Your Highness's leg ailment should have been cured many years ago."
Princess Wuyou let out a smile and said loudly, "You truly make me see you in a new light. Those people must be blind to utter such slanderous words about you. One truly cannot believe everything one hears."
Li Man'er simply said, "Since Your Highness has no leg ailment, then what is the purpose of summoning me here?" She was determined to get to the bottom of it and understand Princess Wuyou's objective.
"Aren't you planning to break off your engagement? The Ninth Prince specifically came to me about this matter. You still pretend to be foolish; it's quite dishonest of you."
Li Man'er replied somewhat awkwardly, "I didn't expect to trouble Your Highness." This was trouble caused by Qi Yihan, it had nothing to do with me.
"It is the Empress Dowager's decree. Ordinary people would not dare to disobey. Moreover, although the Young Master is a bit unruly, in terms of family background, character, and appearance, he is an excellent choice. What dissatisfaction do you have that you must break off the engagement? This is a protective charm that your maternal family has earned for you. And you want to tear it up?"
Li Man'er pursed her lips. "It is I who am not worthy of the Young Master. Rather than looking at each other with distaste, it is better to pull back from the precipice and cut our losses in time."
"Cut our losses in time!" Princess Wuyou listened and laughed heartily. "You girl, what can I say about you? Since you have your difficulties and are determined to break off the engagement, I will naturally help you out of respect for the Ninth Prince. However, pies do not fall from the sky."
Li Man'er secretly cursed, thinking that this was the Ninth Prince's unscrupulousness. He lost a bet and now wanted her to help him, so why was he acting like a hands-off manager? He didn't mention paying extra for her services when they made the bet.
"What does Your Highness want?"
Direct and to the point.
Princess Wuyou stood up, took something from a drawer by the table, and handed it to Li Man'er.
"See what this is."
A small jar, about the size of an adult man's fist. A strand of red string was tied to the lid of the jar.
Even before she opened it, Li Man'er caught a faint, extremely pungent smell. Her sense of smell was exceptionally keen, so she had already discerned what was inside the jar.
"How does Your Highness possess such a forbidden item?"
"You haven't even looked, and you already know what's inside?" Princess Wuyou was very surprised, even a little excited.
Li Man'er nodded. "It is a Gu worm."
"You are truly remarkable. Do you know what kind of Gu worm is inside?"
Li Man'er gazed at the jar and was immediately astonished. However, she did not show it. Instead, she feigned confusion and said, "This Gu is very strange. The jar feels ice-cold to the touch, and after a moment, there's a burning sensation. It must contain an extremely yang or extremely yin Gu King. Are there two?"
Princess Wuyou asked anxiously, "Miss Li, do you have a way to resolve this Gu?"
Li Man'er said, "Without seeing the Gu worm and the afflicted person, I dare not make a rash judgment. However, if it is merely an ordinary Gu King, I have a sixty percent chance of success."
Sixty percent?
Princess Wuyou's pupils suddenly constricted.