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“Dowager Consort Qu is seriously ill?” Qu Moying’s eyes, like water, lifted as she looked through the veil at Pei Qingmin and asked.

“Not extremely severe, but it’s Father Emperor’s wish, so we must be cautious and prepared. These specific herbs mentioned, of course, the longer the vintage, the better. I have collected those with long vintages found in the capital and brought them to the palace.” Pei Qingmin replied without hiding anything.

“But Dowager Consort Qu can’t possibly use such a large quantity alone, right?” Qu Moying was genuinely surprised. The emperor seemed to be highly concerned about Dowager Consort Qu, who was low-key and almost nonexistent.

It was said that Dowager Consort Qu had no children and only stayed in the palace due to the Empress Dowager’s favor. Otherwise, these childless consorts would usually retire to the Xinning Monastery for spiritual cultivation. She was allowed to remain in the palace instead.

“She can’t use that much, but it’s the emperor’s order. Who would refuse? I personally took care of this matter.” Pei Qingmin explained.

Qu Moying’s eyes brightened. “Your Highness, do you still have Scutellaria in your possession?”

Since he was the one responsible for acquiring the herbs, Qu Moying found it hard to believe that he had nothing on hand.

“I do have some, but they are meant to be delivered to the palace. Is Miss Qu interested in purchasing my stock?” Pei Qingmin asked with curiosity.

Qu Moying couldn’t continue the conversation.

To imply that she had such intentions, stating it so matter-of-factly, and in the presence of a prince, seemed inappropriate. If she didn’t mean it that way, then her previous words were truly meaningless. Why would she even bring it up?

“Your Highness, I was merely inquiring. If it’s inconvenient, then never mind.” Qu Moying smiled faintly, lifting the corners of her mouth and spoke vaguely.

She truly was just asking, and if he didn’t have any, it didn’t matter. At most, she would be scolded by Granny Miao for a few words.

“Why do you need them?” Pei Qingmin didn’t say yes or no, and suddenly changed the topic, asking Qu Moying about something else.

“For body conditioning,” Qu Moying stated candidly. There was no need to hide this reason.

“For yourself?” Pei Qingmin carefully observed Qu Moying, who appeared slightly more fragile and weaker than the average woman. Given his expertise in treating long-standing illnesses, he believed she needed body conditioning.

“Yes.” Qu Moying confirmed.

“How about I provide medical treatment for you?” Pei Qingmin calmly proposed.

Qu Moying was momentarily taken aback. She didn’t understand what had gotten into Lord Wei today. The way he acted was different from before. Why didn’t he appear as disdainful as he had been in the past?

“Thank you for your kind offer, but I don’t have any major illnesses. I just need some gentle toning. I have a special recipe that I’ve been using for years, and it has always been effective.”

Regardless of the reason, Qu Moying felt that she should refuse.

Pei Qingmin didn’t insist after being rejected. Instead, he smiled and said, “Dowager Consort Qu is ill, why don’t you visit the palace to see her? I heard that Dowager Consort Qu cares deeply for you. She has never shown such concern for any other young lady before. Only you have broken that pattern.”

“What pattern did she break?” Qu Moying detected a hint of other implications and asked.

“Dowager Consort Qu has always been low-key in the palace. Even I, as the prince, rarely see her. When there are important events, Dowager Consort Qu does not attend. Most of the newly-entered concubines in the harem in recent years are unaware of the existence of Dowager Consort Qu. Only those who have been here for a long time have heard of her, but it’s just hearsay. She doesn’t interact with other concubines on a regular basis.”

Pei Qingmin’s gaze fell on Qu Moying, with a hint of scrutiny. He was carefully observing Qu Moying’s reaction.

Qu Moying sat quietly, her veil hiding her appearance, including her slightly raised eyes. At the corners of her eyes, there was a faint touch of dark red, subtly emitting a charming and mysterious aura.

However, she remained as calm as ever.

“Dowager Consort Qu has been so low-key, but because she summoned you into the palace, more people became aware of you. You might feel that this breaks the norm. Now that Dowager Consort Qu is ill, if you don’t go to visit her, wouldn’t you feel guilty?” Pei Qingmin continued.

“Of course, I should report to my grandmother and visit the palace to inquire about her health!” Qu Moying pondered and replied.

Regardless of the reasons behind this Lord Wei Pei Qingmin’s actions, she should indeed go and see this Dowager Consort.

Now that she knew about it, it would be considered heartless if she didn’t go. Moreover, the gestures shown by Dowager Consort Qu towards her were all benevolent.

“Let me teach you another thing!” Pei Qingmin said as Qu Moying obediently agreed. He tilted his head slightly, and a gentle smile appeared on his pale and handsome face.

“Your Highness, please go ahead.” Qu Moying said calmly. She didn’t think that this Lord Wei had nothing else to do, which was why he spoke to her in such a manner.

However, looking at the Prince’s expression, it seemed to be getting worse. It didn’t seem like he was casually talking to her.

But she couldn’t discern the specific reason; no matter how she looked at the Lord Wei, he shouldn’t have a good attitude towards her.

Since their first meeting, the Lord Wei had always been wearing a peculiar expression. Qu Moying didn’t know where she had offended him to cause such prejudice.

Of course, she had no intention of explaining either. Pei Qingmin and she were just strangers passing by. Since they were strangers, there was no need to explain things too clearly.

Misunderstandings or misinterpretations might be a good thing for two people!

“If you manage to win the favor of Dowager Consort Qu, she will give you not only some vintage Scutellaria, but even more precious things.”

Pei Qingmin smiled slightly, but his gaze was fixed on Qu Moying, observing her reaction.

Qu Moying’s veiled hat seemed undisturbed, but it was unknown how her expression looked. However, one thing was certain—this Fourth Lady Qu seemed to have understood something. She remained silent for quite a while, which pleased Pei Qingmin. At least this Fourth Lady Qu wasn’t entirely useless in his eyes.

Sometimes, coveting vanity could also be a good thing, right? It all depended on how one thought about it and utilized it.

“Your Highness, I don’t understand what you said.” Qu Moying stated.

Pei Qingmin’s smile grew even warmer. He tilted his head, coughed softly twice, and then turned back. His face showed a faint blush. “Dowager Consort Qu is not an ordinary concubine. It would be a great opportunity to win her favor. For you, it would be a tremendous benefit.”

The implication in his words was clear.

“Your Highness, I still don’t understand your words.” Qu Moying pretended to remain oblivious and didn’t continue speaking.

But this reaction was exactly what Pei Qingmin wanted. “If you don’t understand, it’s fine. I have fulfilled the previous promise by helping you find a solution. Whether you choose to use it or how to use it, it is no longer relevant to me. I am tired now. If you don’t mind.”

Pei Qingmin started to politely dismiss the guest. He picked up the tea in his hand and took a sip before smiling faintly at Qu Moying.

“Your Highness.” Qu Moying stood up, bowed slightly to Pei Qingmin, and then turned to leave with Yu Dong. It seemed that none of the royal princes were easy to deal with, including the weak Lord Wei who could barely hold on.

These words were cleverly spoken, arousing her interest while hinting at the great benefits involved. There was also a personal touch to it. No matter from which perspective, it was inappropriate and unwise for her not to visit the sick and win the favor of Dowager Consort Qu. It would make her appear indifferent.

Qu Moying didn’t believe that the Lord Wei was genuinely so kind-hearted, but she couldn’t figure out the underlying reason. It was a mystery for the time being.

Once inside the carriage, she closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, pondering for a while. However, she couldn’t come up with an answer, so she decided to stop thinking about it. The matter seemed mysterious, so she stored it in her heart.

Currently, her focus was on the matter of Yue’s Gold Pavilion, which was pressing.

“Yu Dong, what do you think of that Mr. Zhao?” Qu Moying asked without opening her eyes, “He looks somewhat familiar to me, but I can’t remember where I’ve seen him.”

“Your ladyship met this young Zhao before? I heard he arrived in the capital not long ago.” Yu Dong replied in surprise. “I didn’t notice any familiarity when I saw him. He didn’t leave that impression.”

Yu Dong had sharp eyes and could remember almost everyone she had seen. However, when she glanced at Mr. Zhao, she didn’t feel like she had seen him before.

“Then maybe I was mistaken!” Qu Moying reached up and rubbed her forehead.

Although she said that, she still had a feeling that she should have seen him before. But upon careful consideration, there was no trace of a genuine memory of having met him.

When she returned home, Qu Moying went to see the Old Lady first. Today, too many things had happened, and she needed to inform the Old Lady so that she wouldn’t be caught off guard later.

“Did Madam Duan give you the gold store beside Yue’s Clothing Pavilion?” The Old Lady was surprised to hear about the matter concerning Yue’s Gold Pavilion.

That store was not only profitable, but it was also almost as valuable as gold. How could it be given to someone else, especially to Qu Moying, who didn’t have much money in hand? The Old Lady was well aware of that fact. It was also one aspect of her guilt towards Qu Moying. The little Yue’s dowry originally included cash, and the store had generated significant profits over the years. However, all of it had been embezzled by Yu and couldn’t be retrieved.

Although the Old Lady had provided some compensation, the amount was too large for her to fully cover.

“Yes, it’s about the store. Madam Duan’s involvement in the matter is unclear. Madam Ji has been keeping a close watch on her, not allowing her to handle any business affairs. Madam Duan has no other choice. Otherwise, the family store would have changed ownership and benefited someone else.” Qu Moying explained, also mentioning the situation with Earl Ling’an’s Mansion.

The Old Lady nodded repeatedly upon hearing this. Given the circumstances, it was understandable why Madam Duan had acted that way. It was better for the family store to remain in their hands rather than being taken advantage of by outsiders.

“Be careful, and if you encounter any difficulties, seek help from your father!” The Old Lady couldn’t help but express her concern.