The cruel little princess

Madam Zuo and her children wanted to find the Lady of Rui'an to express their gratitude once again, but the shop assistant turned them away, saying their daughter had already returned home to eat and rest. Before leaving, he instructed that Miss Zuo's future medical consultations would cost 300 taels, plus 540 taels for three months of blood-tonifying and heart-nourishing medicinal food, for a total of 840 taels. For the sake of the Minister of Works, 800 taels would be sufficient!

Madam Zuo thought, yes, her daughter had occupied the county lady's room, and she must have wanted to rest after being tired for most of the day. However, when she heard the consultation fee, Madam Zuo couldn't help but be a little surprised: "So cheap?" You know, even an ordinary ginseng would cost hundreds of taels of silver! This price is cheaper than cabbage!

Young Master Zuo and Miss Zuo also found it incredible, but they soon understood that the county lady was not only a skilled doctor, but also kind-hearted and unwilling to let them spend too much money.

So, Madam Zuo decided to give 1,100 taels to express her sincere gratitude. But the shopkeeper refused to accept it. He believed that the county lady had already instructed him to accept only 800 taels and he could not go against her wishes. The two of them were deadlocked, and in the end, even the banknote was almost torn up! Finally, the shopkeeper said, "Madam, are you going to break the rules of my rejuvenation medicine? Our medicine is clearly marked with prices and is fair to everyone! If you insist on giving more, please ask Madam to find a better place to buy the medicine!"

The crowd of onlookers laughed. These days, there are still people who complain that other people's herbal medicine is cheap! Haha! But this rejuvenation herbal medicine is truly excellent value for money! Some customers have only used it for a few days and have clearly felt the difference compared to other herbal medicines. It really is that good!

Seeing this, Madam Zuo could only say helplessly, "These eight hundred taels are for medical fees and medicinal food, and these three hundred taels are reward silver! It's for you!" She didn't dare to say that it was a reward for the Princess of Rui'an County, because she couldn't afford it with her status.

The shopkeeper came out from behind the counter, his face filled with embarrassment and helplessness, and knelt down in front of Madam Zuo. "Madam, we have never had any grudges against each other, so please take back your sincerity! Our young lady said that anyone who accepts a reward without permission will be fired! I beg you! Please don't give me a reward!" He was doing well at the Rejuvenating Herbal Cuisine restaurant, and the employee benefits were good. The young lady promised that those who performed well would receive dividends at the end of the year! Why would he risk his job for three hundred taels of silver?

Mrs. Zuo was a little dissatisfied when she saw this, but she couldn't get angry because it was the shop's rule after all. So she turned her gaze to the other employees, hoping to find someone willing to accept the reward. However, the other employees scattered like frightened birds when she saw her gaze, no one was willing to risk losing their job for such a small amount of money.

After the crowd dispersed, only Mrs. Zuo and her children remained in the shop, a scene of desolation. With a sigh of resignation, Mrs. Zuo paid the eight hundred taels of silver. Then, with her children, she left Huichun Medicinal Food Shop in a melancholy mood and set off for home. She remained silent the entire way, her heart filled with resentment and disappointment at not having been given more money.

Zuo Lingzhi, however, secretly harbored a fondness for this woman. This remarkable woman, unwavering in poverty and unyielding in wealth, wouldn't demand more money just because her father was an official, nor would she make any other demands. She simply addressed the matter at hand, and she was incredibly principled in her actions. Such generosity and character were truly precious! If I had the chance someday, I'd definitely get to know her!

At night, after Shen Youyou washed and dressed, she sat in front of the dressing table to remove her makeup. Chuntao was tidying up the room. When she came to the Luohan couch, she saw the quilt on it and picked it up and walked into the inner room. "Miss, the weather is cold now. Don't take a nap on the Luohan couch in the future, lest you catch a cold. Let me put the quilt on the bed in the inner room for you!"

Shen Youyou had been thinking about Zuo Qingqing's pulse during the day, and responded nonchalantly, "Yeah." In fact, she didn't hear what Chuntao said at all.

Chun Tao cleaned up the room and came over to comb her mistress's hair. She stroked her mistress's smooth and silky black hair and said enviously, "Miss, your hair is so good! My hair is so thick and dry, not smooth at all, and not black and thick enough."

Shen Youyou said casually, "That's not a big deal. I'll make you some Five Black Pills someday to nourish your kidneys and hair. Just eat more and you'll be fine!" As soon as she finished speaking, she thought that it wasn't just Chuntao who had this problem, there were many other people! Haha! Got it! She said that her herbal medicine shop could continue to improve! She wanted to make Five Black Pills, Black Chicken and White Phoenix Pills, Three Flavor Rehmannia Pills, Xiaoyao Pills, the four major life-saving Chinese medicine pills, etc., and sell them together in the shop! Those who find it troublesome to eat herbal medicine can just take the finished medicine directly! She is such a great little expert! Little Chuntao is her money-making virgin! Thinking of this, she asked Chuntao to go downstairs and rest early.

Well, let's get started! I'll teach all these recipes to Wu Di and the others tomorrow! Thinking of Wu Di and her beauty salon, she suddenly remembered that Liu Jianye had sent someone a few days ago saying that they were almost done hiring, and asked her to take some time to go over and take a look. Those who looked good would be kept for training, and those who didn't would be sent out to do other things. So, why not do it today? Let's do it all tomorrow afternoon! Tomorrow morning, I have to remember to ask Uncle Zeng to prepare a gift. It's my first time going to Liu Jianye's house, so I have to bring a gift.

After Shen Youyou slowly applied moisturizing cream all over her body, she was ready to lie down on the bed to rest. She walked into the inner room and found a gentle and elegant young man standing by the bed! Who else could it be but our Prince Jin?

"Youyou, do you know that I'm jealous and want to compensate me?" His Royal Highness Prince Jin hugged her directly.

Jealous? Compensation? Shen Youyou was a little confused. What kind of excuse was this? She hadn't done anything out of the ordinary today, so why would he be jealous? Besides, she was compensating him? How?

Seeing her bewildered expression, His Royal Highness Prince Jin knew she was completely out of her element. He hurriedly asked her, "Did you meet the Minister of Works, Madam Zuo, today?"

"Yes! I rescued her daughter Zuo Qingqing this morning. I sent someone to deliver a letter to inform her of her daughter's whereabouts, and she went to my herbal medicine shop." Shen Youyou said casually.

"What happened after Madam Zuo met you?" His Royal Highness Prince Jin casually lifted a strand of her hair and placed it under his nose, sniffing it.

"Then she started crying. I told her I could cure her daughter, and then she started crying again... and finally begged me to save her daughter." Shen Youyou recalled, "You know me. I have no way to deal with a woman crying so hard, so I quickly slipped away."

"Didn't Madam Zuo say she would give you a bracelet?" His Royal Highness Prince Jin deliberately held her tightly, looking at her little face which turned red due to her struggle with a mischievous look.

"I didn't take it! She said it was her dowry bracelet, and I thought, wouldn't it be very valuable? So I didn't take it. Besides, I can't wear a bracelet! It's too inconvenient, and it makes all the jingling noises." Shen Youyou stretched out her wrist, motioning for His Royal Highness Prince Jin to see. "When I write prescriptions or take pulses, it's inevitable that the bracelet will get bumped, so I just don't wear it."

"Do you know what that bracelet means to the Minister of Works' family?" His Royal Highness Prince Jin suddenly asked.

"What does it mean? Besides, what does it have to do with me?" Shen Youyou didn't know the reason anymore.

"That bracelet represents the power to lead the family. She left it to her second daughter-in-law. She had already said at the flower-viewing party hosted by my aunt that she would leave the bracelet to the daughter-in-law she chose!" His Royal Highness Prince Jin's eyes seemed to be red. "Youyou! You are mine! You can only be mine!" He suddenly lifted her chin with his hand and kissed her directly! The kiss was intense and uneasy, as if venting a raging anger!

Shen Youyou suddenly understood what he meant. His mother had long since passed away, so naturally, she couldn't find a princess for him. Fortunately, his mother was deeply in his father's heart. Otherwise, his marriage might only become a bargaining chip for his father to win over important officials in the court.

Shen Youyou hugged him back, patting his back soothingly. As Prince Jin gradually came back to his senses, his kiss became tender and detailed again.

As the two separated, Shen Youyou's breathing became somewhat rapid. His Royal Highness Prince Jin looked at her alluring crimson lips, trying hard not to pounce like a wolf. He pulled a brocade box from his bosom and handed it to Shen Youyou. Shen Youyou took it and opened it. It was a flawless white jade hairpin, without any complicated patterns. It looked like an ordinary hollow peony hairpin. But just by looking at it, you could tell that this hairpin must be extremely valuable, because it exuded warmth and fragrance to the touch, with a faint peony fragrance!