The clingy concubine ran away, and the sickly prince lost control.

Yuan Qing's laughter made Luo Haitang feel uncomfortable. Although he was just a guard in the Duke's mansion, a servant, he followed Pei Shiyuan.

Luo Haitang couldn't help but look at him with newfound respect. Being mocked to his face for not studying hard was embarrassing, and she instantly lost her confidence. Her back wasn't as straight as before, and she glanced around furtively, hoping that no one else would find out.

How did Luo Qingyan know the meaning of this sentence?

She didn't seem to have read this in any of the books she read, and she had only heard people say it often, without ever thinking to delve into its meaning. She figured it just meant "human relationships."

Luo Qingyan dared to embarrass her; she'll remember this.

"Sister, what are you thinking about?"

Luo Haitang only came to her senses after Luo Qingyan reminded her.

"You're willing to save your mother? Then hurry and beg the Crown Prince. I'll wait for you."

She's smart enough not to save her mother today. When her mother comes back, she'll be in big trouble. The fact that she's saving her now shows she still remembers some of your kindness.

"Sister, even if the young master intervenes, he still needs to smooth things over with people from all sides, don't you think?"

Luo Qingyan sat back in the round chair, picked up her teacup, and sipped her tea leisurely.

These days, Luo Haitang has been running around trying to find someone to help her mother. But as soon as the person heard that it involved the Duke of Xun's mansion, they immediately waved their hands and refused. They probably had no choice but to come to her. They were determined to save their mother and not let their mother's favoritism go to waste.

"What do you mean?" Luo Haitang feigned ignorance, wanting to know the money to bribe him. It seemed the young master didn't dote on Luo Qingyan much; it was clearly just a matter of the young master's word.

I knew it! People like her are just not likable at all.

"It's because my sister needs to take out money, and my mother has been deceiving the Duke's mansion. We can't let the Duke's mansion give her money again; that wouldn't be appropriate."

This time, we must make Luo Haitang bleed profusely.

"But if the young master says a word, how could the Jingzhao Prefecture not give him face? There's no need for money." Luo Haitang pouted. Luo Qingyan is useless. How long has it been? She still can't win the young master's favor.

"No matter how much influence the young master has, we can't be completely ignorant and do nothing. Otherwise, people will say we don't understand social etiquette, and they won't help us if we do something wrong again."

Luo Qingyan stared at Luo Haitang, who was nervously wringing her hands, and a smile appeared on her lips.

In the past, only Luo Haitang could exert pressure on her, but now she has a day to be examined by her.

"Why don't you pay for it first, little sister? We'll give you the money when Mother comes back."

When Luo Qingyan returned last time, she was dressed in brocade and wore a pure gold headdress. The Duke's mansion must have given her a lot of rewards, so it was only natural for her to use them to save her mother.

"Sister, I can't afford to lend you ten thousand taels. I entered the Duke's mansion penniless, let alone ten thousand taels, I can't even come up with one tael."

Luo Qingyan didn't want to waste any more words with Luo Haitang and went straight to the price.

"Ten thousand taels? Luo Qingyan, are you robbing me?"

Luo Haitang's voice was high-pitched; Luo Qingyan must have gone mad.

"It's not like Mother committed a serious crime."

"If someone commits a serious crime, the penalty will be far more than ten thousand taels; it will start at least at one hundred thousand taels."

If Luo Haitang refuses to pay, then we won't save her; the Luo family can still come up with 10,000 taels.

"Sister, you won't be sad to part with her, will you? Mother loves you the most, don't make her sad."

"You're asking for the moon!" Luo Haitang's face turned red with anger. She had already tried every possible avenue, but nothing worked, so she had no choice but to come to Luo Qingyan.

Luo Qingyan sipped her tea, gazing wistfully at Luo Haitang.

"Alright, ten thousand taels it is, but you must guarantee that you can get my mother out."

A servant on a pleasure boat—what kind of place is a pleasure boat? It's shameful to even mention it. Eventually, people will find out, and if Shen Nanxun finds out, he'll like her even less.

"I promise, I'll just wait for my sister to bring the money over," Luo Qingyan said firmly.

"Okay." Luo Haitang bit her lip, bowed, and left in a disheveled state. Since she didn't have enough cash, she would add some jewelry.

"You keep talking about ten thousand taels or one hundred thousand taels. Do you think you own the government office? You can just buy and sell it at will?"

Pei Shiyuan rolled out in his wheelchair.

Luo Qingyan quickly got off the chair and stood up straight: "Your Highness, I was just saying it casually, just trying to fool Luo Haitang."

"Just saying? You actually promised someone ten thousand taels to rescue them."

Luo Qingyan must have asked him to intervene and get the Jingzhao Prefecture to release Sun Shi. She dared to do this without consulting him; she was incredibly audacious.

I kissed him last night, but I'll just pretend that buying the shop made him misunderstand and think I was going to repay him with my body, and that's it.

What about today? They dare to act first and report later, accepting bribes.

This woman...

Pei Shiyuan clenched his fists, but he couldn't do anything about Luo Qingyan.

Should they be punished?

They even expect others to make medicinal cuisine.

I've been eating the meals Luo Qingyan has prepared recently, and I do feel much better. I don't expect to get better, but at least I'm buying myself time to investigate the cause of my illness.

Seeing Pei Shiyuan's angry but restrained expression, Luo Qingyan chuckled: "I only accept money, I don't save people. How could I let the young master do such a favoritism?"

"Huh? You take the money but don't do the work? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up? I won't protect you." Pei Shiyuan raised an eyebrow. Officials who accept bribes but don't do the work might get bitten back.

Luo Haitang could sue her for swindling money from her family.

"I don't need Your Highness to protect me, but there are indeed things in this that require Your Highness's help." Luo Qingyan lowered her eyes and fiddled with her fingers.

The fox's tail has been revealed; it was indeed meant for him to step forward.

"I won't help. You agreed without even discussing it with me. If you're so capable, solve it yourself." Pei Shiyuan raised an eyebrow. This woman was incredibly stupid. Did she not think things through? She dared to do anything.

Luo Qingyan smiled and whispered in Pei Shiyuan's ear.

After saying that, Pei Shiyuan gave Luo Qingyan a cold glance.

Los House.

"Father, Qingyan said that as long as we give ten thousand taels, we can save Mother. But I don't think we need ten thousand taels. Why don't you talk to my sister and see if we can reduce the amount?"

If I really take out 10,000 taels, it would be bad if my mother claimed the household was in debt and tried to reduce my dowry.

"I'm not going," Luo Daocheng said, his head bowed.

Luo Qingyan's request for money must be the prince's intention.

Sun deceived the Duke's mansion, but the Duke's mansion was not about to let them off easily.

Losing some money is a small matter; if it affects his career, then he's finished.

"I was hoping for a promotion this year. If I intervene, what if the heir gets upset and files a complaint against me?"

"Ten thousand taels it is, ten thousand taels it is, go and prepare it!"

"Father," Luo Haitang called out helplessly.

Luo Daocheng walked straight outside, as if he hadn't heard anything.

With Mother gone, Father still remained indifferent to matters concerning the household.

With such a big incident, shouldn't Father go to Luo Qingyan to discuss ways to save Mother face to face?

Luo Haitang sighed, and was just about to sit down and have a drink of water when a little maidservant came running over in a panic.

"Young Miss, something terrible has happened!"

Luo Haitang was so startled that she almost dropped her teacup.

"What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and panicked?"

"Yes, it's Granny Liu who has developed a face full of red rashes, it's so scary."

"Let's go take a look."

Luo Haitang stood up.

"Young Miss, you'd better not go. What if you get infected? Why don't you let the doctor take a look first?" the maid said. Suddenly, Granny Liu's face was covered with a dense rash, which was truly frightening.

Does she even deserve to see a doctor?