Li Man'er saw Li Shu's regret clearly. She curled her lips into a sarcastic smile, "It's useless to regret it now. Li Qingyun, that good-for-nothing, will eventually squander all the remaining assets of the Li family. The second branch has already turned against you; they are now wishing you would stay paralyzed in bed forever, never to get up again."
Li Shu let out a couple of groans, his eyes filled with unwillingness and anger, as if his fig leaf had been torn off.
"I really don't understand what's so good about that Guo woman. If my mother were still alive, she might have been able to give you an excellent legitimate son," Li Man'er mocked Li Shu, "You've lost the watermelon to pick up a sesame seed, haven't you?"
"Wuwu, ah ah!" Li Shu had a stomach full of words, but he couldn't speak them. This kind of pain was probably something only the late Madam Guo would have understood.
"The second dose of the medicine has been taken. There should be progress in the next few days. I'll come back in a while to give you the third dose."
After Li Man'er finished speaking, she immediately got up and left Li Shu's room. She was afraid that if she stayed any longer, she would be unable to resist strangling him.
She had already reached the front courtyard when she was called back.
"Elder Sister, Elder Sister, wait for me."
Li Man'er turned her head and saw Li Tian'er walking rapidly, almost running towards her, waving her handkerchief as she ran, as if afraid Li Man'er wouldn't see her.
"Guess what she's up to?"
A Si whispered back, "Your maid thinks she has no good intentions. Perhaps she wants to..." to snatch your man.
Li Man'er gave her a knowing look, "I thought so too."
While the mistress and maid were talking, Li Tian'er reached Li Man'er and looked at her expectantly, "Elder Sister, I have something I want to tell you."
"Speak!"
Li Tian'er blinked and glanced at A Si.
"This is my maid; I trust her. If you don't speak, I'll leave."
"Elder Sister," Li Tian'er said in a delicate voice, "Sister has a few words from her heart she wants to tell you. Can't we sisters have a little private chat?"
Li Man'er smiled and waved her hand, signaling A Si to move further away.
A Si obeyed and took a few steps back.
Li Man'er also walked a few steps to the side, "There's no one else here; speak your mind!"
Li Tian'er glanced behind her; her maid also wisely retreated, keeping watch for them not far away.
Li Tian'er curtsied slightly, "Elder Sister, what I am about to say is sincere and good advice. Please do not be angry."
"You speak." Why so much preamble?
Li Tian'er's eyes sparkled, "I heard that Elder Sister is getting married at the end of the year, hmm..."
"You want to give a gift?"
Li Tian'er choked, almost suffocating herself, "As Elder Sister is getting married, Sister naturally wants to give a congratulatory gift, but I'm not talking about that."
"Then what is it? Can you be more direct and say what you have to say?"
"Hmm, Elder Sister, have you chosen your dowry maids?"
Li Man'er sneered. She knew it. This Li Tian'er was here specifically to annoy her. She had noticed last time that Li Tian'er had an unusual interest in Qi Yihan, and her every move was aimed at seducing him.
"You don't need to worry about such things. I only have a few maids, and I'll bring them all. The princely manor isn't lacking for food."
"But, but... Elder Sister, have you prepared someone to serve the Prince?"
Li Man'er narrowed her eyes slightly, "What exactly do you want to say?"
"Sister, don't blame me for being blunt. It's natural for men to have multiple wives and concubines since ancient times. The Prince is of royal blood and a trusted minister of the Emperor; how can he be content with only you as his wife?"
"I know how the Prince treats me; it's not your place, an outsider, to point fingers and criticize." Li Man'er's demeanor suggested she was deeply angered and unable to face the facts.
"Sister, I am doing this for your own good. Sister is trying to share your worries." She's getting anxious; she's getting anxious. Li Tian'er rejoiced inwardly, thinking, "Let's see if I can't control you now."
Li Man'er raised an eyebrow, "Then, according to your opinion, what should be done?"
"The Prince's status is noble, but he is also a man. He always has a curiosity, liking novelty and excitement."
Li Man'er snorted coldly. How could Li Tian'er utter the word "excitement"? Didn't she claim to be a lady from a respectable family? How could she speak so crudely and vulgarly?
"Sister thinks that the Prince will certainly have a consort and concubines in the future. Even if Sister dislikes it, there's nothing she can do, as a woman who is not virtuous or is jealous commits one of the seven grounds for divorce! Moreover, those who become consorts must be both beautiful and talented, and perhaps from a good family. The Emperor might even bestow a consort in marriage. At that time, Elder Sister, how will you refuse?"
"Oh? It is indeed difficult to refuse. Then, does Sister have a good solution?"
Li Tian'er's heart beat faster, and she said somewhat shyly, "Sister has been knowledgeable and virtuous since childhood, with considerable talent. Although my appearance is not as dazzling as Elder Sister's, I also have a certain charm. If Elder Sister does not dislike it, Sister is willing to enter the manor with Elder Sister and serve the Prince together. The two of us sisters, reliving the legendary tale of Empress E Huang and Empress Nü Ying, wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Before Li Man'er could speak, a cold voice suddenly came from nearby, "I think you are suffering from delusion."
Li Tian'er was startled and quickly looked up, only to see Qi Yihan approaching with an aura of coldness, his eyes sharp and chilling, as if he wanted to devour someone.
"Greetings, Your Highness." Li Tian'er was flustered at first, unsure how much Qi Yihan had heard. However, she quickly calmed down, thinking this was a good thing. For her, wasn't this an opportunity? Perhaps the Ninth Prince would see her infatuation and agree to her proposal?
Li Tian'er happily imagined Qi Yihan helping her up and bringing her into the princely manor. She even unconsciously extended her slender hand, wanting Qi Yihan to help her up.
Seeing that hand, Li Man'er almost threw up. This Li Tian'er was definitely suffering from some kind of serious illness, otherwise her brain wouldn't be like this.
Unfortunately, it was all Li Man'er's delusion. Qi Yihan stood by Li Man'er's side, not even looking at Li Tian'er.
"Prime Minister Li indeed has good upbringing, teaching his daughter to be so lacking in self-respect that she would even offer herself for the Prince's bed."
Li Tian'er was terrified. Even if she were a fool, she would understand Qi Yihan's anger at this moment. Furthermore, her own father had been singled out; the situation seemed to be more serious than she had imagined.
"A Qi!"
"Your Highness!" A Qi appeared from nowhere, immediately standing behind Qi Yihan.
"Go to the Hanlin Academy and inform them that Prime Minister Li has lost his virtue. Punish him by confining him to his home for reflection. He can only return to the Hanlin Academy when he has properly educated his daughter."
A Qi immediately replied, "Yes, your subordinate will go at once."
Li Tian'er was filled with regret, "Your Highness, please be merciful. It was a moment of madness; I will never dare to do it again. I beg Your Highness to forgive me this once; I will never dare again."
Li Tian'er quickly knelt down and pleaded desperately. No matter what, she could not let her father be branded with the words "lack of virtue."