Proofread by Men Shunde

Nangong Rongji glances at Li Wanrou again and again, sneering in his heart and hating the woman more than ever.

"She fails to attract me and then she goes to hook up the crown prince, thinking that she has got someone higher in position. It's a pity that the crown prince will not live longer," thinks Nangong Rongji, with a smile curling up at the corner of his mouth. And then, he bottoms up a cup of wine.

The Palace Banquet is in no way stopped even though the arrival of the crown prince has caused a great stir.

What is worth mentioning is that the Emperor says that Prime Minister Li would probably be the father-in-law of his son when the Emperor has more drinks with Prime Minister Li at the banquet.

This sentence said by the Emperor is enough to fulfil the purpose of the arrival of Nangong Chengde, which guarantees the basic requirements for Li Wanrou.

Li is the Prime Minister as well as the Grand Minister of State. The next step for his promotion is only to become a kinsman of the Emperor. Therefore, the identity of Li Wanrou has already become somewhat noble.

The ministers and dignitaries are all enjoying their wine and talks at the banquet, except for two, who have to take on forced smiles on their faces while feeling miserable. Seeing this, Li Wanrou feels very cool.

"That's bad? My revenge has just begun, and what's worse is yet to come," thinks Li Wanrou.

When they come back to the Mansion, the first sentence Prime Minister Li says to her is, "Wanrou, from now on, you can go with me to meet the dignitaries. You are old enough to look for someone suitable for you."

The implied meaning of his words is very clear, that is, her greatest vale now is that the crown prince takes a fancy to her.

Li Wanrou doesn't feel any warmth from his words but bitter coldness. As a result, she becomes more indifferent to his father. He treats her as his own daughter only when she could bring benefits to him.

She replies gently, "Yes, father."

She doesn't take it very seriously, for she knows very well that she has to depend on her own to gain a footing in the Mansion though Nangong Chengde gives her some guarantee.

"Congratulations, my sister! How lucky you are to be adored by the crown prince! But you have to be in a hurry. It is said that there is not much time left for the crown prince," says Li Shifu sincerely, putting her arms around the shoulders of Li Wanrou.

It seems to others that Li Shifu really cares about her sister, but Li Wanrou knows clearly that she is reminding his father and her that whether Li Wanrou could marry the crown prince or not is still a question because there is not much time left for the prince.

When the crown prince is dead, Li Wanrou's value will be gone.

Seeing the smiling face of Li Shifu, Li Wanrou smiles even more happily, and replies, "Thanks for your concern, sister. I will seize this opportunity."

There is not much time left? Nangong Chengde can survive decades of years without problem as long as she, a great physician, is with him.

It has been quite some time since the Palace Banquet that night, but the life in the Prime Minister's Mansion seems more difficult for Li Wanrou.

"Miss, the first madam knows very well that your health is not good, but she asks you to greet her every morning to present your respect to her. It is obvious that she is deliberately making things difficult for you," Furong says angrily, for she takes side of Li Wanrou, and is angry with the first madam whenever she thinks of what Madam Zhao does.

Li Wanrou leisurely trims some potted plants of murrayapaniculate, looking not angry at all.

"It is not new for her to deliberately make things difficult for me secretly. Please send these potted plants to my mother for me afterwards, as a little gift from me," says Li Wanrou.

"Well, Miss, the first madam treats you in such a way, but you …want to give her …" Furong feels it hard for her now to understand Li Wanrou. She doesn't know when Li Wanrou has become ambiguous as if she were enveloped by mist, which makes it difficult for others to see her clear.

"Miss!"

Bise tiptoes to Li Wanrou and kneels down before her.

Without looking at her directly, Li Wanrou asks, "Have you got the things I asked you to?"

Bise nods her head promptly, and then Li Wanrou's face looks better and she waves her hand, saying, "You are smart enough to make a good choice. Go and do as I told you."

"Yes," answers Bise.

Furong couldn't understand a word from their conversation. She knows that she has no right to ask. Her duty is to serve Li Wanrou, who will not let her down.

Seeing Furong is confused, Li Wanrou does not intend to explain anything to her. Li Wanrou says to herself while opening a medical book on how to use plants of murrayapaniculate in medicine, "To let me greet you every morning to present my respect to you is to make you difficult to sleep at night. It is good to kill two birds with one stone."

"Furong, get my bath water ready, for I will go to bed earlier today. There are more people having trouble in sleeping tonight."

With her slender fingers pressing between her eyebrows, she thinks to herself that there are a lot of things she has to think about, and there is a long way she has to go. Therefore, she must keep fit, not falling before the fall of those people.

Moreover, she caught a cold at that night, which seems to have a relapse. She has to take much care of herself lest she should be troubled by it in the years to come.

When she thinks of this, Nangong Chengde suddenly comes into her mind, and it has been some time since they met at the banquet. It is time now for him to come to the Mansion to have his toxin detoxified.

"Each time he steals in, as if to have an affair with her."