The peasant girl has a private space, and her husband is handsome.

In the evening, the Imperial Advisor returned to Sifangguan from Gu's Teahouse.

The Sifangguan was a magnificent official residence in the Great Qi Dynasty, used specifically to entertain foreign envoys.

The room where Empress Ji Wu lived was decorated entirely in bright yellow.

The bright yellow curtains were woven with gold thread, the tables and chairs were made of Phoebe zhennan wood, and even the screen was embroidered with golden peonies in gold thread.

Empress Ji Wu was looking in the mirror, touching the crisscrossing scars on her face, hoping they would heal soon.

The Imperial Advisor relayed Su Qianqian's words to Ji Wu through the screen.

"...Miss Su's consultation fee is extremely high, 100,000 taels of silver, and she also wants ambergris, saying that she needs this medicinal material to treat her face."

Ji Wu smiled.

"We clearly got a great deal; all the money we spent was given to us by the Emperor of Qi. We didn't have to spend a single penny of our own money."

The Imperial Advisor's voice was barely audible, like a mosquito's buzz: "I'm just feeling uneasy."

Ji Wu put on her veil and came out from behind the screen, smiling as she spoke: "We currently have something to ask of Miss Su, so we cannot make a move. However, once my face is healed, if the Imperial Preceptor is still unhappy, I will allow you to teach him a lesson at will."

The next afternoon, at the Prime Minister's residence.

In Prime Minister Feng's living quarters, Vice Minister Luo stood by the bed with his head down, like a child who had made a mistake.

He came to apologize.

He had previously promised Prime Minister Feng and others that he would bring snake repellent powder out of the city to welcome the Empress, but he failed to keep his promise, resulting in Prime Minister Feng being bitten by a poisonous snake.

"Your Excellency, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have broken my promise, and I shouldn't have left without snake repellent powder. It's all my fault."

Prime Minister Feng lay on the bed, looking impatient.

He was bitten particularly badly this time; there were hundreds of snakes surrounding him and biting him.

Just thinking about it makes me tremble.

Although the Western Xia Empress used an antidote to cure his snake venom, the scene of being torn apart by countless snakes left an indelible shadow in his heart.

I will never forget it in this lifetime.

"Minister Luo, you should leave now. I never want to see you again. Every time I see you, I have bad luck."

Vice Minister Luo squatted down and presented the purse embroidered with yellow forsythia flowers to Prime Minister Feng. "Prime Minister, I have come here with sincere apologies. This packet of snake repellent powder is a gift to you as an apology."

This packet of snake repellent powder was given to him by Luo Mingfang this morning.

Minister Luo felt even more that Mingfang was filial, since Mingfang herself was afraid of snakes, yet she gave him snake repellent powder.

After receiving the snake-repelling powder, Prime Minister Feng was no longer so angry.

After all, the Western Xia Empress has not yet left the capital, and danger still exists. What if the Empress suddenly feels like summoning snakes again? Wouldn't that be extremely dangerous?

With this snake repellent powder, there's nothing to fear.

That day, he witnessed firsthand that all the ministers who possessed the snake-repelling powder were unharmed, and snakes dared not approach within three meters of them.

Although I particularly dislike that Miss Su, I have to admit that the snake repellent powder she makes is indeed a good product.

"Alright, I'll forgive you this time. But you can't go back on your word next time. You shouldn't make promises you can't keep."

Vice Minister Luo replied obsequiously, "Yes, yes, yes, Your Excellency is absolutely right."

At this moment, Steward Chen came in.

"My lord, Minister Lin of the Ministry of Revenue requests an audience."

"Let him in."

The sun was very strong today, and Lord Lin was covered in sweat; the back of his clothes was almost soaked.

He brought a wave of heat with him as he entered, making the room very stuffy.

Lord Lin looked very displeased and reported, "Your Excellency, the Empress of Western Xia has given all the ambergris and 100,000 taels of silver notes that His Majesty bestowed upon her to Miss Su."

Prime Minister Feng was furious upon hearing this.

This is outrageous! Those valuables were meant to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the Great Qi and the Western Xia, yet that girl surnamed Su dared to accept them!

Is there really no way to cure that girl?

Vice Minister Luo was even angrier than Prime Minister Feng.

One hundred thousand taels! The Luo family is so poor right now that they can't even come up with one hundred taels, let alone one hundred thousand.

In order to ensure that the Luo family could have food, he had Fan Dajiang pawn some things every day.

This can't go on forever!

If the Luo family could receive 100,000 taels of silver, their predicament would be immediately resolved, and how wonderful their future would be! They would never have to worry about money again.

The servants' monthly wages can be paid again, unlike now. I heard that the servants have spread the word throughout the capital that the Luo family is in arrears with their monthly wages.

I often get glares when I walk down the street.

And then there's ambergris, such a precious substance, worth a fortune in gold, only emperors are entitled to possess and use it, how dare that little girl accept it?

Aren't you afraid of being accused of treason and coveting the throne?

That girl only got such a great opportunity because she switched identities with Mingfang. Those valuables should have belonged to Mingfang.

If Mingfang had 100,000 taels of silver, she would at least give half to her grandfather.

Prime Minister Feng was in a bad mood and felt the room was even more stuffy. He said to Steward Chen, "Push me outside to get some sun."

The Feng family recently bought a wooden chair with wheels. Sitting on it, they can easily move it to wherever they want to go.

It's more comfortable than being carried.

Steward Chen was a little worried. "Master, there are a lot of snakes in the capital lately. I'm arranging for people to catch them. If you go into the courtyard, I'm afraid you'll be disturbed by the snakes."

Ever since the Western Xia Empress summoned a swarm of snakes outside the city gates, many snakes have inexplicably appeared in the capital.

The Prime Minister's residence specially hired a man who knew how to catch snakes, and he had already caught more than thirty snakes in one morning.

Prime Minister Feng, holding up a purse embroidered with forsythia flowers, said, "What are you afraid of? I have snake repellent powder."

The group went into the courtyard and rested under a large locust tree.

Breathing in the fresh outdoor air, Prime Minister Feng finally felt that the tightness in his chest was no longer so bad.

It's all that Miss Su's fault; she always gets into all sorts of strange and infuriating things.

A maid in green placed chilled cherries on a stone table under the tree.

At this moment, Steward Chen suddenly pointed to the tree and said, "Master, there's a snake."

Everyone quickly looked up and saw that the large snake on the tree trunk was as thick as a bowl, flicking its tongue and ready to attack, which was particularly frightening.

Lord Lin immediately stepped back a few paces.

Vice Minister Luo mocked Lord Lin, saying, "Look at your pathetic self, what's there to be afraid of about snakes?"

Both Vice Minister Luo and Prime Minister Feng had confidence in the snake-repelling powder, so they not only didn't move it, but also showed no fear on their faces.

Vice Minister Luo knew very well that as long as he stood within three meters of Prime Minister Feng, he would be safe.

It was Lord Lin who was truly foolish to run away.

Unexpectedly, the large snake fell from the tree and, by sheer coincidence, landed right on Prime Minister Feng's injured leg, biting him in one swift motion.

Prime Minister Feng cried out in pain.

Manager Chen quickly ran to fetch the snake catcher he had hired, and then hurriedly ordered someone to fetch a doctor to treat the Prime Minister's injury.

The snake catcher grabbed the snake's head in one swift motion and put the large snake into the bamboo basket.

Luo Shilang wondered to himself, "Could the snake repellent powder be fake?"