After being sentenced to death, she came to her senses.

"So you deliberately didn't tell Aoyun the whereabouts of the Spirit-Boosting Pill?"

Fang Zhengyong slowly raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the darkness of the night, finally landing on the stone table on the left side of the courtyard.

There sat quietly—Fang Xiaoran. Her figure appeared particularly thin and lonely in the cold moonlight. The moonlight, like a veil, shone on her, illuminating her slender features and pale face.

In a daze, he seemed to see Bai Qiqi from back then. Under the same moonlight, her fleeting beauty was breathtaking, and he could never forget her.

Yet it was precisely this person who both haunted his dreams and fueled his extreme hatred.

He gave her all his love and hate.

"Of course not. The Divine Essence Pill is so precious. How could Father think that his daughter could get another one?" Fang Xiaoran's voice was calm, without any emotional fluctuation.

Fang Zhengyong asked coldly, "If that's the case, why did you anger your grandmother? She has only just recovered from a serious illness. Are you trying to cut off her path to survival by doing this?"

"Father, shouldn't you be wondering why your daughter is so angry when she tells the truth? I've always said that I just want fairness, but Father is unwilling to give it to me, and so is Grandmother. Now you're questioning me instead. Is there any justice in the world?" Fang Xiaoran chuckled, her tone carrying a hint of disdain and indifference.

“I don’t want to argue with you about this. Just tell me if you’re willing to save your grandmother.”

The tone was less of a plea and more of an interrogation, leaving Fang Xiaoran with no other choice.

Of course, Fang Xiaoran would not be swayed by him. Instead, she looked at him calmly and said lightly, "That depends on what you plan to do, Father."

"You want to negotiate again? Do you see your family as nothing more than tools for bargaining?"

"It might not have been like that before, but I think it is now."

These words left Fang Zhengyong speechless, so he could only ask, "What exactly do you want?"

“If my mother is innocent, I want you to restore her reputation.”

For a woman, reputation is extremely important. If she is accused of murdering her mother-in-law, she will never be able to recover for the rest of her life. Even if her innocence can be proven after so many years, the damage to her reputation is very difficult to repair.

This situation requires the intervention of the Fang family, specifically Fang Zhengyong and the old lady, for things to improve.

Fang Zhengyong was unwilling to bring up this past incident again, but Fang Xiaoran repeatedly brought it up in front of him and even wanted to exonerate Bai Qiqi from back then, which Fang Zhengyong naturally refused to accept.

But the old lady's illness was a stark reality, and it was clear that Fang Xiaoran was no longer as easy to talk to as before, and would immediately obey any order he gave.

“Bringing this up again will do you and your mother no good.” Fang Zhengyong finally said this calmly, but Fang Xiaoran smiled and said, “There’s no need for Father to worry about that.”

It was clear that Fang Xiaoran would not back down at all, and there was no point in Fang Zhengyong continuing to argue with her like this. After all, the old lady was still waiting, so he had no choice but to compromise.

Fang Zhengyong sighed and said with some helplessness, "Fine, do as you please. But from today onwards, if you cause any more trouble, don't blame your father for being heartless."

"Your daughter will remember this forever." After saying this, Fang Xiaoran slowly stood up and gave Fang Zhengyong a slight bow. For some reason, seeing his daughter bowing to him so gracefully and elegantly, he felt a sense of loss.

Fang Xiaoran didn't give him much time to think about these things; her calm voice slowly entered his ears.

"Mother and Doctor Qi are old friends. If Father asks in Mother's name, he may be able to get what he wants."

After leaving those words, Fang Xiaoran turned and went into her room.

Fang Zhengyong only came to his senses when he heard the door close. He clenched his fists tightly, his expression very complicated.

This was even more painful than begging his own daughter. He had been so resolute back then that he never imagined he would ever have to mention that name again.

The road from Beiju to Ci'an Hall wasn't too far, but Fang Zhengyong paced back and forth for a long time. He was now in a state of turmoil and didn't know what to do.

In the past, he would never have asked anyone for help in Bai Qiqi's name, but the old lady was seriously ill and he had no choice but to do so.

Moreover, there seemed to be an intricate connection between Doctor Qi and Bai Qiqi, which inexplicably fueled his resentment.

Could Fang Xiaoran have done this on purpose? He looked up at the moonlight, a sense of desolation welling up in his heart.

Early the next morning, a servant from the Fang family went out to deliver a letter to Danxi Pharmacy. The letter was sealed with mud, making it appear extremely formal and secretive.

Since it was meant for Doctor Qi, He Chunming dared not open it and handed it to Fang Xiaoran with both hands. However, Fang Xiaoran took the envelope, did not even glance at it, and casually threw it into the incense burner, saying, "Not enough sincerity."

“Alright, I’ll go and reply to him right away.” Although He Chunming was puzzled, he didn’t ask any further questions. He immediately left the cabinet and told the servants of the Fang residence the bad news.

The servants inquired repeatedly but could not obtain any useful information. They could only return to the mansion and relay Doctor Qi's words to Fang Zhengyong verbatim.

"Not sincere enough? Does he want me to go in person?" Fang Zhengyong was furious. He was, after all, a fifth-rank official in the court. How could a traveling doctor make things so difficult for him? He clearly didn't take him seriously.

But what can he do if he doesn't take her seriously? He can't just arrest her and torture her, can he? Not to mention that he has no legitimate reason to do this, the Divine Doctor Qi's Yi Shen Dan has already fallen into the hands of aristocratic families, so how could no one protect her?

After much deliberation, Fang Zhengyong gritted his teeth, changed his clothes, and decided to go there in person. No matter what, it would at least prove that Doctor Qi was at the pharmacy, which would give him a chance to get the Divine Elixir. He could wait, but the old lady didn't have much time left.

After a stick of incense had burned, Fang Zhengyong arrived at Danxi Pharmacy by carriage. After entering, he explained his purpose, handed the rewritten letter to He Chunming, and said, "Thank you for your trouble."

"Lord Fang, please wait a moment." He Chunming took the letter and went into the inner cabinet, handing it to Fang Xiaoran. However, this time Fang Xiaoran only glanced at the letter and did not take it. She only said, "Burn it. From now on, the Yi Shen Dan can be exclusively supplied to the Fang family, and the price can be the same as the market price."

To his surprise, Fang Xiaoran agreed immediately. He Chunming was quite taken aback and muttered to himself, "But do we have that many Spirit-Boosting Pills?"

"Of course, as long as the Fang family can afford it."

He Chunming told Fang Zhengyong what Fang Xiaoran had said. This was good news for Fang Zhengyong, but he couldn't laugh. Instead, he felt like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

He had tried every possible means to obtain the Divine Essence Pill, but to no avail, it was delivered to him so easily simply because the letter mentioned his relationship with Bai Qiqi. This contrast was hard for him to accept, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him.

Fang Xiaoran wanted to use this point to let him know that the Fang family would achieve nothing without Bai Qiqi.