After the court session ended, Fang Ruotang thought about having her mother send an invitation to Miss Cao to come over for a chat.
Although Imperial Censor Cao was an honest and upright official, he was, after all, a father, and how could he not love his own daughter? He disregarded his reputation and invited Prime Minister Fang to his home for a drink without waiting for a moment.
Prime Minister Fang readily agreed, and after leaving the palace, the grandfather and grandson took a carriage to the residence of Imperial Censor Cao.
[Little mirror, I've discovered I'm a lucky charm; everything I wish for comes true.]
Little Mirror: ...
There are some things I'm unsure whether I should say or not.
Never mind, I won't say anything more. Let her be happy!
According to custom, Fang Ruotang should have paid his respects to Madam Cao first upon his visit. However, Imperial Censor Cao did not send anyone to announce his arrival but instead had his servants invite Prime Minister Fang and his grandson to the flower pavilion.
He went to the backyard first and told Madam Cao about the situation. Madam Cao couldn't catch her breath and fainted.
Fortunately, the physician was there and gave her two acupuncture treatments, which woke her up. However, she couldn't stop crying, "That heartless Dou Xun, boohoo... my poor daughter! How can she live like this!"
Imperial Censor Cao then quickly recounted the matter of the Marrow Cleansing Pill.
Fang Ruotang's miraculous abilities are no longer a secret, especially since she was also present at the banquet hosted by the Princess.
"Really?" Madam Cao wiped away her tears, clasped her hands together and bowed. "Miss Fang is truly a great benefactor to our family. Once this matter is settled, I will definitely go to the temple to get her a longevity tablet and worship her every day."
Imperial Censor Cao choked for a moment, surprisingly not objecting to his wife's superstitious practices.
Soon, Miss Cao was invited back to the manor. The head steward of the manor went to invite her in person, but he didn't explain why. Miss Cao assumed that something had happened at home and hurriedly rushed back.
The family of three met, and the couple hesitated for a long time before finally speaking. On the contrary, Miss Cao was very worried when she saw her mother's red and swollen eyes and her father's worried face.
Fang Ruotang, having eaten and drunk her fill, was pondering how to give the Marrow Cleansing Pill to Imperial Censor Cao and persuade him to feed it to Miss Cao when she saw Imperial Censor Cao arrive with Miss Cao.
"I have some matters to discuss with Prime Minister Fang. You will accompany Miss Fang."
Miss Cao was a little confused. It wasn't like she didn't have a younger sister who was still unmarried at home. Besides, she was more than ten years older than this Miss Fang, and the two of them had never had any contact before!
Although she didn't understand what her parents were up to, Miss Cao was always sensible and polite, so she suppressed her doubts and treated them well as if they were the hosts.
"No matter what Miss Fang gives you, just eat it." Madam Cao only gave this one instruction before letting Miss Cao take Fang Ruotang to the backyard.
She knew her own daughter best. No matter what happened, she would never break down in front of others and disgrace the Cao family. She could speak up about anything else, but she couldn't bring herself to say anything about this.
Miss Cao is somewhat old-fashioned and not a cheerful or playful person, so she looks older than her actual age, like a woman in her early thirties.
In addition, she had been married for ten years without having any children, which added a lot of worry to her face. After all, given her condition, Minister Dou dared not let her have a child and secretly gave her some medicine.
"Sister Cao."
Miss Cao was taken aback when she heard this form of address.
Before she was granted an official title more than ten years after her marriage, she was called Mrs. Dou. Later, when Dou Xun was promoted to a high official position, he requested an imperial decree for her, and she was then respectfully addressed as Madam Dou.
How can I get Miss Cao to take the Marrow Cleansing Pill? Would it be strange to just give it to her directly? She won't refuse, will she?
[If she refuses, it's her own stupidity, so let's not waste her time and respect her choice.]
Really?
Fang Ruotang's eyes lit up; she was somewhat tempted.
She felt that the little mirror was good to her, and that there would definitely be more Marrow Cleansing Pills in the future, but wouldn't they be in short supply right now?
She sympathized with Miss Cao, but also wanted her family to eat first.
It's roughly about being willing to give up something, yet also being reluctant to give it up.
Therefore, if Miss Cao refuses on her own initiative, she certainly won't try to persuade her.
Fang Ruotang had a good idea, but looking at Miss Cao's rigid appearance, she frowned.
Such a person can drive themselves to their death even without rumors or gossip.
Miss Cao was shocked. Could it be that she, like the Princess, had contracted an incurable disease?
But Miss Fang Liu couldn't even save the Eldest Princess, so why would she give her life-saving medicine? Her family didn't have much interaction with the Prime Minister's Mansion before, and she herself didn't know Miss Fang Liu at all.
【This is too troublesome. No, I need to think of a way. What do you think about me pretending to be a sorceress? That way, people will come to me for help instead of me having to devise ways to give them medicine. Right now, it looks like I'm poisoning them!】
Fang Ruotang scrunched up her little face and got right to work.
"Sister Cao, to be honest, I received guidance from an immortal and know some things that others don't."
When Miss Cao was young, she didn't like people who were too outgoing. Now that she's older and doesn't have any children of her own, she prefers lively young girls like Fang Ruotang.
Seeing Fang Ruotang's distressed expression, a smile flashed in her eyes. She thought she was just a young girl and didn't want to bother her, so she immediately cooperated considerately.
"No wonder I thought Miss Fang was so otherworldly; it turns out she was guided by an immortal. My apologies for my disrespect."
Fang Ruotang choked.
Why does Miss Cao seem a little dim-witted?
Miss Cao's perfect smile cracked slightly.
"I see that we are destined to meet. I have a magic pill here, I will give it to you!" Fang Ruotang took out the Marrow Cleansing Pill directly.
Miss Cao thanked her and took the medicine once, but didn't take it back. She looked at Fang Ruotang strangely, took the medicine from her with a reluctant expression, and hesitated whether to return it. Just then, Fang Ruotang turned her face away and said resolutely, "You eat it!"
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
