Yan Daopo hurriedly stepped forward to show her diligence, removed the cork from the porcelain bottle, and poured a glossy white pill into Lady Zhang’s palm.
"Madam, take a look, this is indeed a good thing at first sight," Yan Daopo said with a fawning smile.
Lady Zhang examined the porcelain bottle and then the pill. Indeed, they were both very exquisite, not sothing ordinary to be compared with. Thus, her confidence in Yan Daopo’s words deepened.
"You only have this one pill, right? You’re not handing it out to every bride, are you?" Although saying so, Lady Zhang still asked.
"Oh dear, Madam takes for a quack," Yan Daopo exclaid in feigned distress, "I’ll swear in front of Madam, if there is a second pill in my hand, may I be struck by lightning and have a miserable death. Madam, you’re wronging my sincere intentions."
Yan Daopo’s oath was indeed genuine, as she truly only had this one pill in her possession.
"I was just saying, why make such an oath? I know you co from hardship too. How can I not believe you?" Lady Zhang said. In her heart, soone like Yan Daopo, who had endured suffering and had such experiences, must be a kind and good-hearted person.
"This pill..." Lady Zhang held the pill in her hands and asked Yan Daopo.
"... It dissolves imdiately when put into tea or porridge," Yan Daopo replied even before Lady Zhang had finished her question, "I must let Madam know. This pill must be taken in advance for it to be effective."
"...Estimating that Miss’s happy occasion is near, it shouldn’t be delayed. Otherwise, such a good pill would go to waste. One more thing, Madam, this matter can’t be ntioned to the girl beforehand. If told, the pill won’t work. Wait until Madam gives it to the girl secretly, and then tell her once she’s in the bridal sedan," Yan Daopo explained.
"Not even tell her?" Lady Zhang asked.
"Before taking it, definitely not. Afterward..., never saying anything would be better, I think. The girl is young and might not believe in such things. If she were to be upset with Madam, accusing you of doubting Sixth Master, that wouldn’t be good... Madam is the girl’s mother, and your intentions are for her welfare, not seeking gratitude or anything in return. It’s better not to tell the girl, let her think her smooth life ahead is due to Sixth Master’s kindness, and live a harmonious life forever. Isn’t that better?" Yan Daopo smiled and said.
"Hmm." Lady Zhang thought Yan Daopo’s reasoning was sound and nodded.
"Madam, you must hold firm on this matter. This isn’t the ti to be indecisive. The girl’s entire future depends on Madam. And in my opinion, today is a good day. Once the girl returns, Madam should slip it into her tea without delay. Lest two more days pass and it becos too late," Yan Daopo advised further upon seeing Lady Zhang nod.
As she spoke, Yan Daopo reached for the porcelain bottle in Lady Zhang’s hand to take it back.
"Madam should carefully keep this treasure stored and not let the maidservants know. They are young and loose-lipped. If the girl learns about it, Madam’s careful intentions would all be in vain. Even if you offered ten thousand pieces of gold, I couldn’t find another pill," Yan Daopo said.
Hearing this, Lady Zhang indeed carefully stored the pill away.
"What is Madam worried about? Even taking a huge step back, if it doesn’t work as well, it won’t hurt anything," Yan Daopo seed to utter unintentionally, "I wouldn’t dare to give the girl sothing harmful."
Yan Daopo’s words reached Lady Zhang’s ears. These words struck at the core of Lady Zhang’s thoughts. Even if she remained sowhat skeptical about Yan Daopo’s miraculous dicine, she firmly believed that taking the pill wouldn’t cause any harm.
Lady Zhang was convinced that Yan Daopo wouldn’t harm others and, at most, was rely using an ineffective product to swindle so money. This was a straightforward thought common to soone from a farmstead background. And admittedly, this idea wasn’t often wrong. So many quacks sell fake dicine, but none sell harmful things. Not just for the sake of conscience, but at least to avoid trouble. Otherwise, before earning money, one’s life and safety would be at risk—a foolish thing to do.
"I can’t take this pill from you for nothing," Lady Zhang recalled Yan Daopo’s ntion of ten thousand taels of gold, clearly hinting at the pill’s value. "Na your price."
"Oh, Madam," Yan Daopo laughed, "this is sothing money can’t buy, a priceless treasure."
Without a stated price, Lady Zhang felt a bit troubled.
"I don’t have much personal money at hand; I’d have to draw funds from the accounts," Lady Zhang said.
Yan Daopo hurriedly stopped her.
"I have already told Madam, this is sothing no amount of gold and silver can procure. It’s fate for the girl and a piece of my heart. Taking Madam’s money would nullify it and disrespect the Immortal Elixir," Yan Daopo said, "I’m in this Prefecture City, and the girl will also be here in the future. Once you see the pill’s efficacy, Madam can tell the girl to look upon this old lady more favorably, and that’s more valuable than anything."
Yan Daopo’s words were so convincing that even soone more astute than Lady Zhang would have believed.
"If this pill truly works, I certainly won’t let you suffer any loss. Manman should also rember your kindness," Lady Zhang said.
"I’ll be honest with Madam. I’m counting on this for the rest of my life, haha," Yan Daopo laughed, a glint of cunning flickering in her narrowed eyes. Her words carried another layer of aning, which Lady Zhang couldn’t perceive.
At this mont, footsteps were heard in the courtyard, and a little maid ran in to report.
"Miss is back."
...
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