However, Mrs. Kong completely ignored Mu Xingrou. "You're a noble lady in the palace. Can't you even come up with this much money?" Mrs. Kong eyed Mu Xingrou suspiciously, thinking she was just pretending so as not to save Mu Rendong.
"Do you think I'm made of money? Even in the palace, I don't have that much silver," Mu Xingrou gritted her teeth and said.
She regretted it deeply now. Why on earth had she kept Mrs. Kong and Mu Rendong back then? They were not only of no help but also always causing her trouble.
This time, Mu Rendong had taken 150 taels of silver from her when he left the palace. That was almost all her savings. How could she possibly have any more money?
"Mu Xingrou, you can't just sit back and watch him die," Mrs. Kong glared at Mu Xingrou menacingly. Mu Rendong was the apple of her eye. She would never allow anything to happen to him.
Mu Xingrou was frightened by Mrs. Kong's look. She knew Mrs. Kong held something over her, those things that had happened to her outside the palace. If they were to be spread, she would be in big trouble.
"Don't forget, we're in the same boat. If anything happens to me, you won't fare any better," Mu Xingrou threatened Mrs. Kong.
"What do I have to fear? If anything happens to Rendong, I'll drag you down with me!" Mu Xingrou never expected Mrs. Kong to be unafraid of her threat. A flicker of panic flashed across her eyes.
"Fine, I understand. I'll save Mu Rendong."
Mu Fengqie watched them bickering with glee. She knew they were extremely selfish people.
"Mu Fengqie, do you have any money? Lend me some to get Mu Rendong out first. I'll pay you back later," Mu Xingrou looked at Mu Fengqie. She must have money. She was a princess of Tianlin Kingdom and the master of the Pharmacist Valley. How could she be short of money?
"Mu Xingrou, you think too highly of me. How could I have any money?" Even if I did, I wouldn't lend it to you. If you want to save Mu Rendong, find the money yourself.
"How could you not have any money? You're a princess and the valley master. How could you be penniless?" Mu Xingrou's voice suddenly turned shrill.
"I am indeed a princess and the valley master, but there's still the old valley master in the Pharmacist Valley. When is it my turn to handle the finances? And what does being a princess matter? I still get my monthly allowance like everyone else.
Besides, I'm not the emperor's biological daughter. Why should he give me so much money? It's already good enough that he gives me a monthly stipend," Mu Fengqie said calmly.
If the emperor of Tianlin Kingdom and the master of the Pharmacist Valley were to hear these words, they would surely be furious.
The emperor of Tianlin Kingdom wished he could raise Mu Fengqie as his own daughter. He showered her with all kinds of precious things.
As for the Pharmacist Valley, all its industries had been handed over to Mu Fengqie. She was practically in control of all the finances.
Coupled with her own express delivery business, she was a real wealthy woman. She was probably richer than the emperor himself.
But unfortunately, someone believed her. Mu Xingrou looked at Mu Fengqie suspiciously but said nothing. She somewhat believed what Mu Fengqie had said. Although Mu Fengqie was the biological daughter of the valley master, she hadn't been raised by his side since childhood. It was understandable that he might be wary of her.
As for Tianlin Kingdom, they had their own daughters. Why would they dote on an outsider's daughter? They were afraid that if they indulged her too much, she might develop ambitions and bring trouble to them in the future.
"Alright, I understand. You can go back first. I'll send the money to you in a couple of days," Mu Xingrou said, rubbing her temples in pain.
"Okay, then I'll take my leave. Mu Xingrou, you'd better prepare the 400 taels quickly, or..." She was afraid she couldn't help but send over two more IOUs.
"Alright, I know," Mu Xingrou replied impatiently.
After Mu Fengqie left, she went to visit Concubine Jing. No, she was no longer a concubine. It was said that Concubine Jing had served the emperor last night and had been promoted to a consort today. She should be addressed as Consort Jing.
"Your Highness, you're here," Xiaocui greeted Mu Fengqie as soon as she saw her.
"Where's your mistress?" Mu Fengqie asked with a smile.
"My mistress is in the inner chamber. She's been talking about you for days. She'll be so happy to see you," Xiaocui led Mu Fengqie to the inner chamber.
Consort Jing was embroidering a picture of a hundred flowers in bloom. She had already completed most of it.
"Mistress, Princess Tianlin is here," Xiaocui announced.
Hearing that Mu Fengqie had come, Consort Jing quickly looked up. She didn't even notice that her finger had been pricked by the needle. She just looked at Mu Fengqie happily.
"Fengqie, you're finally here. I've missed you so much," Consort Jing lifted her skirt and walked up to Mu Fengqie. She took her hand.
Mu Fengqie noticed that Consort Jing's finger had been pricked. She took out the ointment she always carried with her and applied it to Consort Jing's finger. The bleeding stopped soon.
"Wow, Fengqie, this ointment is amazing. The bleeding stopped so quickly," Consort Jing exclaimed in surprise.
"If you like it, I'll give it to you. I have plenty more," Mu Fengqie said with a smile and placed the ointment in Consort Jing's hand.
Consort Jing didn't decline. She just took it. "Fengqie, why did you come to the palace this time?"
"I'm here to deliver some medicine for you," Mu Fengqie took out a small medicine bottle from her sleeve and placed it on the table. She reminded Consort Jing, "Take one pill three times a day before meals."
"You could have just let Xiaocui go and pick it up when I'm outside the palace. Why did you come here in person?" Consort Jing felt a bit embarrassed. She had asked Mu Fengqie to help her with her illness, and now she had to trouble her to deliver the medicine to the palace.
"It's okay. I'm just passing by," Mu Fengqie replied.
"Hmm? What happened? I've been keeping a close eye on Mu Xingrou recently. There's no way she could have caused any trouble," Consort Jing asked.
Mu Fengqie saw what Consort Jing was thinking. She smiled and said, "It's not Mu Xingrou. It's her younger brother, Mu Rendong."
"Did he go out to cause trouble for you?" She had been careless. She hadn't watched Mu Rendong closely enough.
"Not entirely. I'm just here to pass on a message to Mu Xingrou. Mu Rendong owes 400 taels of silver in a gambling house outside the palace. The gambling house is waiting for him to pay up," Mu Fengqie explained.
Consort Jing was surprised for a moment but quickly regained her composure. She had long thought that Mu Rendong was not a good person. She never expected that he would go gambling and owe so much silver.
"I guess Mu Xingrou will be busy for a while," Consort Jing said gloatingly.
"Not just busy. She doesn't have that much money at all," Mu Fengqie said. The only way for her to raise the money quickly would be to borrow it from the wealthy concubines in the palace.