Madam Cui's face bloomed with joy, as if a flower had truly blossomed. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were so dense they could have trapped countless mosquitoes. She held Li Man'er's hand and said affectionately, "You always think of everything, Man'er. Rest assured, there are plenty of women with damaged bodies. As long as you can treat them, your aunt will have hope in the palace, and you will be our family's foremost hero."
Shu Fei had previously given birth to a princess who died young, and ever since, her womb had remained barren. If she could conceive and gain favor, it would be a great boon for the entire Marquis's estate.
It was precisely because Li Man'er claimed she could treat women with damaged bodies that Madam Cui had urgently sent Li Shu and his wife away.
"Grandmother, please don't worry. Our family naturally prioritizes Aunt's affairs. To put it simply, Grandmother only has Aunt as her daughter. She entered the palace in the prime of her youth and rarely gets to see us throughout the year; it's as if our entire family owes her. To put it broadly, we are subjects and should naturally share the burdens of the imperial family."
Madam Cui was so touched she called her "heart and treasure" multiple times. "Among so many girls in the family, you are the most considerate. No matter what others say, Grandmother has always known your goodness."
Li Man'er felt a wave of nausea but suppressed it.
"Grandmother, about the shops..."
Madam Cui readily agreed, "Don't worry, just do as your father said. Isn't your grandmother here? I'll have the accountants come and help you tally the accounts. Not a single coin will be missing."
"Grandmother, I'm not petty. I'm just angry that Mother disregards our own family and uses money to fill the holes in her maternal family's coffers. If this money were spent on the Li family, it would be our own affair behind closed doors, and everything would be easily resolved. But why should the Guo family benefit!"
Madam Cui was even more pleased with her.
"I've already thought it through. Once the money is recovered, I'll send thirty percent of it to the palace for Aunt's support. If she recovers, our entire family will prosper."
This was even more astonishing. Madam Cui looked at Li Man'er as if she were a bringer of wealth, and a shrewd glint flickered in her cloudy eyes, leaving Li Man'er speechless.
She finally understood. This Li family was either incredibly foolish, like the original owner and Li Shu, who were manipulated without realizing it, or extremely cunning and self-serving, always believing themselves to be smarter than everyone else.
This was fine too. Whether they were shrewd or foolish, she would deal with them all at once! As the saying goes, when the avalanche comes, not a single snowflake is innocent; it's the same when people die.
"Grandmother, I need to go back and work on my formulas. I won't disturb your rest any longer. Oh, right, Princess Wuyou might send someone to fetch me to her estate soon, so I wanted to let you know beforehand."
"The Princess is sending for you to treat her leg?"
Li Man'er nodded. "Precisely, but it's not convenient to say so publicly. The Princess is also concerned about my reputation."
Madam Cui smiled broadly. "The Princess is thoughtful. You must put in your best effort."
"Grandmother, rest assured, I will do my utmost."
"Good. Mama Wang, escort the eldest young lady out. Also, the weather is getting hotter. Increase the ice allowance in the eldest young lady's room by another ten percent. You will personally speak with the stewards."
Mama Wang's face, as pale and plump as a steamed bun, broke into a fawning smile. "Yes, this old servant will attend to it personally. Eldest young lady, this old servant will escort you out."
These were all signs of chaos.
Li Man'er rose and curtsied slightly. "Then your granddaughter will take her leave. Grandmother, please remember to rest more and not overexert yourself."
Madam Cui nodded. "Go back then!"
Only after Li Man'er's figure disappeared from sight did Madam Cui's smile take on a different hue. "She is indeed Ning's daughter."
In this encounter, Li Man'er achieved victory without a fight, effortlessly bringing down Madam Guo and reclaiming the five shops.
Upon hearing Li Man'er's account of everything, Wu Mama exclaimed in astonishment, "Young lady, you have truly remarkable skills! You actually made the Marquis and the Old Madam help you reclaim the shops. But, can you truly help the Consort regulate her body?"
"Of course, I can. I never boast."
Wu Mama knew that Li Man'er had saved Li Shu, and her heart settled. "Then this old servant is relieved. However, so much time has passed, why hasn't your marriage been settled yet?"
Li Man'er blinked her eyes. "Don't worry, it should be soon."
The next day, Princess Wuyou did indeed send someone to fetch Li Man'er. To everyone's surprise, it was Mama Min who arrived.
This was a tremendous honor! Although she was a former palace maid, she had served the Empress Dowager. Who dared to slight her?
Mama Min first paid her respects to Madam Cui and exchanged pleasantries before mentioning the matter of fetching Li Man'er to the Princess's estate.
"Our Princess admires the eldest young lady's calligraphy and poetry. When they last met, they felt an immediate connection and took a liking to each other. Therefore, she has sent this humble servant to invite the eldest young lady to stay for a few days. What does the Old Madam think?"
Stay for a few days?
Madam Cui was somewhat surprised but quickly became understanding. It was likely for acupuncture treatment, and one or two days would not show significant results. Princess Wuyou had seen so many doctors over the years, and her leg ailment had been intermittent; it would take several days of treatment to gauge its effectiveness.
If Li Man'er could even cure Princess Wuyou's leg ailment, then Consort Shu's pregnancy would be just around the corner.
Thinking of this, Madam Cui's heart surged with excitement, and she couldn't refuse.
"It's truly remarkable that the child has caught the Princess's eye. She was a mischievous child since she was young; I fear she might cause the Princess sleepless nights worrying about her."
As Madam Cui was the eldest, everyone naturally gave face to her joke and laughed.
"The Old Madam is too modest. The Princess has always been discerning in her judgment. The eldest young lady is the most talented. You are a fortunate woman, raising daughters who are all like flowers and jade, and who understand how to care for others. It is truly enviable."
The pleasantries had reached their limit; any further praise would be undignified.
"Then we will trouble you, Mama."
"Old Madam, please rest assured, this humble servant will ensure the eldest young lady is safely returned."
"Very good, very good." Madam Cui sent someone to call Li Man'er and instructed, "Have the eldest young lady bring two capable maids to serve her, and pack all her necessities."
"Old Madam, please don't worry. The Princess's estate lacks nothing; she certainly won't be mistreated."
Just then, the sound of footsteps was heard from outside the door, followed by hushed voices attempting to persuade someone. Then, the curtain was lifted, and Li Zhaor, bursting in.
Yunxiu shook her head with a troubled expression, indicating she couldn't stop her. Mama Wang subtly stepped forward, exchanged a glance with Yunxiu, and the latter quietly retreated.
"Why has the second young lady come?" Mama Wang said, subtly trying to usher Li Zhaor out. "Miss, you've come at an inopportune time. Please come back later to pay your respects to the Old Madam!"
Mama Min calmly sipped her tea. Having spent half her life in the palace, she had seen all sorts of situations. The moment Li Zhaor entered, she knew the girl had come for her.