Servants knew Li Man'er's habits and had hot water ready early.
Li Man'er bathed and changed, ate breakfast, and changed her clothes, preparing to go shopping. However, before leaving, she had to report to Madam Cui as a courtesy.
When she entered the flower hall, she saw Madam Bai of the second household also present.
"Greetings to Grandmother."
"Greetings to Second Aunt."
Madam Bai wore a sky-water green stand-collar jacket with entwined floral patterns today, and her hair was adorned with a full set of kingfisher enamel ornaments. It was evident she had dressed with great care.
"Eldest Young Lady, no need for such formalities."
Seeing Li Man'er arrive, the servants who were about to ask for Madam Cui's instructions quietly withdrew. One of them carried something resembling an account book.
Li Man'er understood. With Madam Guo in a deep sleep, Madam Cui managed all the household affairs. As she was getting old, her energy was not always sufficient. It seemed she intended to delegate some of the managerial tasks to Madam Bai.
The youngest daughter-in-law, Madam Tian, was pregnant and couldn't handle strenuous work, so she was naturally unable to assist.
Madam Bai, adorned in her finery, naturally wished to project an air of authority. She was a rather snobbish and competitive person. Now, feeling superior, she adopted a haughty demeanor.
Unlike Madam Tian, who was more simple-minded.
"What did Grandmother have for breakfast? Was her appetite good?" Li Man'er did not want to engage in such trivial conversation, but she still had to maintain appearances.
"I'm old, nothing tastes good," Madam Cui said, "The weather is too hot. Even though the kitchen staff is diligent, I can't eat much."
Old Madam Wang immediately added, "Her Ladyship the Old Madam cannot tolerate the heat and hasn't been eating well these past few days."
Li Man'er remembered the spleen-strengthening and stomach-soothing pills she had stored in her spatial dimension and casually took out a long, slender small box from her 'sleeve'.
"Grandmother, these are spleen-strengthening pills I made. They are more effective than ordinary pills and not bitter. Take one before breakfast and one before dinner. You'll see results in two days."
Madam Cui nodded, and Old Madam Wang took the medicine box.
"Eldest Young Lady is so filial."
Madam Bai chimed in insincerely, "Making these spleen-strengthening and stomach-soothing pills is quite simple. It's just hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, and white atractylodes, with a bit of honey. Mother, don't worry, it won't go wrong."
Was this an insinuation that her pills lacked any technical skill?
Li Man'er smiled, seemingly unfazed by Madam Bai's words. She merely said, "The weather is so hot, why is Second Aunt wearing something so thick? That jacket you're wearing is really beautiful, but it's a bit heavy. Aren't you hot?"
Madam Bai gave an awkward smile, "I'm older, unlike you, who is still like a budding flower."
"Second Aunt's rouge looks very good. However, masking poor complexion with rouge is the most foolish method." Li Man'er also detected a medicinal smell on Madam Bai. Although her clothes were perfumed, the medicinal scent was too strong for Li Man'er.
It seemed she had been taking medicine for a long time.
Madam Bai became a little flustered, "What nonsense are you talking about, you girl?"
Li Man'er said, "Second Aunt should really see a doctor. This condition of menorrhagia can be serious or minor. If it's delayed for too long, I'm afraid... it will be difficult to manage. The current doctors are not good enough, try a different one!"
Madam Cui was extremely surprised, "Second daughter-in-law, have you really contracted menorrhagia?"
Madam Bai's mind was in a turmoil. She couldn't imagine how Li Man'er, after just a few glances, could accurately diagnose her with menorrhagia.
This was her secret. Very few people knew about it. She had been taking medicine intermittently for some time, but her health had not improved. Her poor complexion, she covered with powder and rouge. The medicinal smell on her person, she masked with perfume on her clothes. But how had Li Man'er discovered it?
"Young Lady, you haven't even taken Second Madam's pulse, and you can know Second Madam's illness?" Old Madam Wang thought, this was miraculous!
However, since the Young Lady could detoxify the Marquis and even make Imperial Physician Duan submit willingly, she must be a person of great ability!
Madam Lin, who attended Madam Bai, was both surprised and delighted. She immediately said, "Young Lady, you are so skilled, how did you know?"
Although Madam Bai did not want her secret revealed, if Li Man'er could cure this illness, she would be willing to beg Li Man'er, even if she had to do it repeatedly.
This unspeakable ailment was truly tormenting. Madam Bai's heart ached.
"Second Aunt's complexion is pale, and the makeup on her face is only enough to fool ordinary people, how can it fool our doctor's eyes? Besides, look at Second Aunt's hair, it's dry and lusterless, and thin with hair loss. Can't you smell a medicinal scent on her? Although the incense has masked a lot of it, I can still smell the scents of small thistle, astragalus, sanqi, and bitter cliff grass."
Madam Lin was overjoyed, "Young Lady is truly divine." The medicine her mistress was taking contained precisely these ingredients.
Second Madam also exclaimed with joy, "Can Man'er cure it?"
Li Man'er, however, pursed her lips, "Second Aunt, are you joking? I'm just a quack doctor who can casually mix a few pills with hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, and honey. Such difficult illnesses leave ordinary doctors helpless. Even imperial physicians who treat noble ladies in the palace wouldn't dare claim they can cure it! Second Aunt, please don't blame me."
This was bare-faced revenge!
Madam Bai wished she could gnash her teeth. If she had known Li Man'er could cure this illness, she would never have boasted. This had made the girl hold a grudge.
Just as Madam Lin was about to say something, Madam Cui stopped her with a look. She understood Li Man'er to some extent and knew the girl held grudges and had a fierce temper. To get her to treat the second madam, she would have to intervene personally.
"Grandmother, why don't you use my invitation card to find Imperial Physician Duan? I'm free today and would like to wander around the streets, I wonder if..."
"You may go!" Madam Cui waved her hand, "Take more people with you and come back early."
Li Man'er immediately got up, curtsied slightly, and said, "Your granddaughter will go."
After Li Man'er left Pine Crane Hall, Madam Bai impatiently asked, "Mother, just now..."
Madam Cui sighed and said, "Do you think I don't want Man'er to examine you? But what is her temperament now? She's someone who dares to confront even the Princess Royal. Based on your words just now, do you expect her to treat you? It's more likely to happen in a dream."
"Then, then what should I do?"
"You have to coax her. If you deliberately antagonize her, do you think she'll treat you?" Madam Cui sighed helplessly, "First, take my invitation card and invite Imperial Physician Duan to come. I'll try to persuade her again after some time."
That was all they could do for now.
Madam Bai was momentarily unsure whether to cry or laugh.
Li Man'er, accompanied by Lu Yi and Zi Yan, left the Marquis's mansion and headed towards the bustling main street.
"Miss, you should have seen Second Madam's face. It was a kaleidoscope of colors, such an expressive sight," Lu Yi felt vindicated. "That Second Madam always looks down on people, and she also looks down on our Miss's medical skills. Heh heh, in the end, she'll have to beg our Miss!"