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Meng Zhirou, seeing Mrs. Zhao approaching, quickly urged, "Li, Yao, hurry and leave!"

Wei Yuan Yao pulled Su Li and turned to walk out.

"Stop! Miss Su, please wait! Meng Zhirou, stop Miss Su!"

Without regard for her image, Mrs. Zhao lifted her skirt and ran over.

In one swift step, she blocked Su Li's path.

Panting heavily, she said, "You must be Miss Su... Su, right? I am Meng Zhiyun's mother. Zhiyun is sick. I've heard of your excellent medical skills. Please, Miss Su, take a look at my daughter."

Meng Zhirou stepped forward and said, "Madam, Miss Su is here to see my mother. She is about to leave."

Mrs. Zhao frowned and shouted at Meng Zhirou, "Shut up! Leave? What do you mean leave! Whether it's one person or two, what's the difference?!"

Su Li finally understood just how arrogant Mrs. Zhao was.

In broad daylight, a concubine dared to shout at the legitimate young lady.

From the reactions of the surrounding servants, it was clear this was a common occurrence.

She was even more arrogant than Xia Qingzhi had been back then!

Realizing her tone might have been too harsh, Mrs. Zhao quickly plastered on a smile and said to Su Li, "Miss Su, you and Rourou are good friends, and Yun'er is Rourou's younger sister. Could you please..."

Su Li smirked and said, "If you want me to treat Meng Zhiyun, my consultation fee is quite expensive."

She needed money to run her shop, and the Right Chancellor's silver was there for the taking.

Mrs. Zhao let out a sigh of relief and said, "The consultation fee is no problem, Miss Su, just name your price!"

But inwardly, she secretly looked down on Su Li, thinking that a nobleman's daughter talking so much about money was no different from Charlatan wandering doctors.

"Prepare 200,000 taels of gold, bring it to the Ministry of Works residence, and I will come to visit."

Mrs. Zhao's eyes widened in shock, "200,000 taels of gold?!!"

Su Li asked coldly, "What? Too much? If it's too much, then don't bother treating her!"

With that, she began to walk away.

She estimated that over the years, the Right Chancellor had accumulated far more wealth from exploiting the people.

This 200,000 taels of gold likely didn't even amount to half of his fortune.

Though 200,000 taels was a lot, he might still grit his teeth and pay it.

And if he did, it would play right into her hands.

If the Right Chancellor spent such an exorbitant amount to treat his illegitimate daughter, it would surely draw attention from higher-ups.

After all, his monthly salary was only about two or three thousand taels of silver.

"Miss Su, could you lower the amount? 200,000 taels of gold is far too much!"

Su Li waved her hand dismissively and said as she walked, "Not a single tael can be reduced!"

Mrs. Zhao gritted her teeth as she watched Su Li's retreating figure, then turned to Meng Zhirou, who was about to leave.

"Stop!"

Meng Zhirou asked coldly, "Does Madam have something else to say?"

"You could invite her to treat your mother, but not my Yun'er? I knew it! You don't want Yun'er to get better! When your father returns, I'll make sure to tell him all about this!"

"As you wish!" Meng Zhirou finished speaking and walked inside.

Seeing her attitude, Mrs. Zhao was enraged.

"Hmph! What kind of attitude is this! You think you've grown wings now..."

Leaving Mrs. Zhao behind, Meng Zhirou glanced at the sky, put on a smile, and entered Lady Qu's courtyard.

"Mother, why are you out of bed! Quickly go back and lie down!"

Seeing Lady Qu in the courtyard, she hurried over to support her.

Lady Qu smiled and said, "I saw the weather was nice today, so I wanted to take a walk."

Meng Zhirou replied, "Mother, once you're better, I'll accompany you on walks for as long as you like. But for now, you must return to bed."

Lady Qu held her daughter's hand and asked, "Rou'er, these past few years, have you ever resented me for being useless?"

Meng Zhirou shook her head.

"Daughter understands you, Mother. You refused to stoop to certain things because of your upbringing. That is what makes you precious. Don't dwell on it anymore. Let's go back inside."

Suddenly, Lady Qu said, "Grind ink for me, Rou'er. I want to write a letter to your uncle."

Meng Zhirou's eyes lit up.

"Mother, have you finally come to a decision?!"

Lady Qu gazed at the sky above the courtyard and said slowly, "These past years, I've been stuck in my own narrow-minded ways, trapped like a frog in a well, refusing to grow. Miss Su and Miss Wei are right—what I thought was for your benefit wasn't truly what you wanted."

Meng Zhirou felt a mix of sorrow and joy, overwhelmed with gratitude toward Su Li and Wei Yuan Yao that words couldn't express.

"I'll go grind the ink right away!"

Meng Zhirou happily supported Lady Qu back into the room.

After setting up the paper, Lady Qu picked up her brush, paused in thought for a moment, then decisively began writing swiftly.

Once finished, she set down the brush and exhaled deeply.

Folding the letter neatly and placing it in an envelope, she handed it to her daughter.

"Rou'er, once this letter is sent, there will be no turning back. Are you afraid?"

Meng Zhirou answered firmly, "Mother, as long as we are together, I'm not afraid of any difficulties!"

"Good. Go ahead."

Meng Zhirou happily took the letter and left the room.

Watching her daughter's retreating figure, Lady Qu sighed softly.

She wondered what expression her brother would have upon reading the letter.

Since marrying into the Meng family, she rarely returned to her maiden home, and in recent years, she hadn't gone back at all.

Although everyone in the capital knew that the Right Chancellor's household was a mess, with neither wife nor concubines properly fulfilling their roles, the Qu family had always stayed out of trouble, valuing harmony above all else. They probably had no idea about the situation.

Now that this letter was being sent, it might stir up a storm.