Bai's expression shifted slightly, her hand unconsciously clenching.
The old lady was also startled. A hoarse voice came from behind the mosquito net: "Poisoned?"
"That's right," the Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu said with a solemn air. "The old lady's poison is called summer heat toxin, caused by the weather being too hot. As long as you take my unique antidote pill, I guarantee the poison will be removed and you'll immediately have a good night's sleep."
Bai Shi: "..."
Wang Qingyao: "..."
The old lady, her ears filled with the promise of a "good night's sleep," excitedly extended her withered hand from the mosquito net: "Then I'll trouble the Imperial Preceptor to give this old body a pill."
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu took out a pill from the brocade pouch hanging from his waist. No, it was a single pill.
The pill was as large as a pigeon's egg. The old lady took several bites with some tea before finally swallowing it.
"Mother, how do you feel?" Bai Shi asked, standing by the bedside and attending to her.
Wang Qingyao thought to herself that even if it were effective, it wouldn't work so quickly. Bai Shi was too anxious.
The old lady lay on the bed, closing her eyes with satisfaction. A few grunts came from her throat, unintelligible. Bai Shi leaned in to listen, and then heard the old lady emit a faint snore.
The old lady had actually fallen asleep!
Bai Shi looked at Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu in astonishment. The maids and servants in the room also cast admiring glances at him. Even Wang Qingyao was surprised; she had thought Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu was just spouting nonsense.
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu calmly stroked his goatee, projecting an air of "I know I'm amazing, but I'm very low-key."
Only two maids were left to attend to the old lady in her room; everyone else withdrew.
Bai Shi thanked Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu repeatedly and invited him to stay for dinner.
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu: "No need for dinner, just settle the payment for the pill."
Bai Shi paused for a moment, then quickly put on a smile: "Of course, of course."
"Thank you, ten taels of silver."
Wang Qingyao glanced at Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu. Ten taels for one pill? Ten taels was equivalent to twenty thousand RMB! What kind of divine pill was this?
Bai Shi didn't even bat an eyelid and immediately instructed Granny Sun to fetch ten taels of silver.
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu accepted the silver, his smile becoming more enthusiastic: "Remember to come back to me next time you're sick!"
Everyone: "..."
After Bai Shi escorted him out of Rongtang Courtyard, she excused herself, leaving Wang Qingyao to see him off to the second gate.
Wang Qingyao glanced at Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu and asked curiously, "Imperial Preceptor, what medicine did you give the old lady?"
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu scanned the surroundings and, not hiding it from her, lowered his voice: "An Shui San (Calming Sleep Powder)."
An Shui San was similar to sleeping pills; taking too much could have side effects.
Wang Qingyao understood. She knew Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu had been making it up.
"An Shui San only has a temporary effect. If the old lady can't sleep again after she wakes up, won't your reputation be tarnished?"
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu smiled and twirled his beard, unconcerned: "That's why I'm relying on you, Second Miss! Tell me, what have you discovered?"
Xiao Yun also looked at Wang Qingyao. Wang Qingyao told him about the incense burner. Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu nodded: "This is easy. You can tell your old lady that the Imperial Preceptor has decreed that no incense should be burned in the room, as it is inauspicious."
Wang Qingyao: "..."
Although this method was simple and crude, it was very effective. Old Madam Wang had just had the most restful sleep of her life, and she would surely obey Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu's words.
They reached the second gate, and Wang Qingyao stopped. Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu consciously moved a few steps aside, allowing Wang Qingyao and Xiao Yun to have a private conversation.
However, before Wang Qingyao could speak, a "thump-thump" of footsteps reached her ears, followed by a figure rushing in front of Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu, gasping, "Imperial... Imperial Preceptor, c-can you divine my fortune?"
It was Wang Qinglin. Bai Shi had left early specifically to inform Wang Qinglin of the Imperial Preceptor's arrival.
Old Master Wang had forbidden Wang Qinglin from leaving Lijing Courtyard, but with Bai Shi's command, the maids and servants sent by Old Master Wang dared not truly stop her. Wang Qinglin took the opportunity to slip out.
She was wearing a casual lake-green dress and a white veil hat, which completely concealed her mottled face.
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu was startled and instinctively took a step back: "Who are you?"
"I am the eldest legitimate daughter of the Wang family's eldest branch," Wang Qinglin announced herself. "I've encountered some troubles recently and am very uncertain about the future. I implore the Imperial Preceptor to show me the way."
So she wanted her fortune told. Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu breathed a sigh of relief and put on a compassionate expression: "Heaven is benevolent. This humble Taoist priest does not discriminate in fortune-telling based on status. However, since you seek my counsel, why are you hiding your face?"
Wang Qinglin was surprised: "Didn't you divine my second sister's fortune without seeing her face?"
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu's expression stiffened, and he quickly recovered: "Can you compare to her? She has a rare and precious destiny, the kind that can break curses. How much virtue must she have accumulated in her past lives to achieve this? Even without seeing her, I could sense her radiant aura and abundant blessings..."
Wang Qingyao: "Cough, cough, cough..."
Anger flared on Wang Qinglin's face. She had always looked down on Wang Qingyao, feeling Wang Qingyao was not worthy of being compared to her. To think that Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu would say she wasn't worthy! The anger surged through her, making her head buzz.
But she dared not disrespect Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu. She looked around, hesitated for a moment, and then motioned for the Imperial Preceptor to follow her a little further away.
They stopped near a corner. Wang Qinglin stopped, turned her back to everyone, and removed her veil hat.
The patches of peeling skin on her face had not healed, still appearing in dark and light shades, extremely unsightly.
Imperial Preceptor Feng Fu's eyes widened abruptly, his mouth agape, and he shrieked: "Ah, a ghost!"
After shouting, he fled, running so fast that he didn't even bother to pick up his hat that had fallen to the ground.
Wang Qinglin stood frozen, a sense of humiliation slowly filling her chest. She dared not look back, her shoulders shaking as she put on her veil hat and ran back to Lijing Courtyard via another path.
Xiao Yun and Wang Qingyao looked at each other.
Xiao Yun had heard Wang Qingyao mention Wang Qinglin's disfigurement, but he had never seen the extent of it.
Wang Qinglin's retreating figure looked lonely and helpless, but thinking that Wang Qingyao was the one originally intended to be disfigured by her, Xiao Yun couldn't sympathize with her and even felt a bit of schadenfreude.
Wang Qingyao: "The Imperial Preceptor's resilience is a bit weak."