"How dare you... I initially thought you were gentle and lovely, and I could accept your status as a concubine born of a secondary wife, to be a concubine to Xu Bai. I never expected you to be so sharp-tongued! A woman like you will never enter the Sheng family's doors in this lifetime!"
This was the first time she had been so directly contradicted by a junior, especially by a concubine-born daughter she looked down upon. It was a complete loss of face.
Madam Sheng's face turned green and then purple with anger, almost to the point of calling for them to be thrown out.
Feng Jin grabbed Ling Wan's hand and pulled her behind her to protect her, facing Madam Sheng directly.
"Madam Sheng, what my sister just said is what I also want to say to you. The daughters of our Ling family disdain marrying into your Sheng family. Even if you personally came to propose, we would never marry into your Sheng family, no matter how grand the procession!"
She had initially thought Sheng Xu Bai was a good person, a worthy match, which was why she wanted to set up Ling Wan with Sheng Xu Bai.
Who could have predicted that this Madam Sheng was so... so shrewish? When she threw a tantrum, she was even more formidable than the shrewish women in the marketplace.
"The Ling family are warriors from humble backgrounds for generations. Our Sheng family does not want daughters from such families. Marrying one in would simply ruin the Sheng family's reputation!"
Madam Sheng, unwilling to be outdone, continuously belittled the Ling family, while also boasting and elevating the Sheng family's status: "Our Sheng family has been esteemed officials and nobles for generations, living in luxury. Our ancestors even produced Grand tutors and Prime Ministers. My two sons..."
"Madam Sheng, you don't need to brag about your family's achievements. I have no interest in listening. But didn't Madam Sheng just say that if I cured Young Master Sheng the Third, you would bestow any gold or jewels I asked for? I won't be polite and will shamelessly ask for my consultation fee. Your Sheng family is of such repute, and Madam Sheng is a woman of her word. You won't go back on your promise!"
Since they had offered to pay consultation fees, it would be ungrateful not to accept.
"That... that is natural."
Madam Sheng had not expected Feng Jin to suddenly mention consultation fees. After all, she had said it casually and had not expected Feng Jin to take it seriously. For a moment, she didn't react, but she still followed Feng Jin's lead and agreed.
Snapping back to reality, Madam Sheng took a deep breath. She still maintained her dignified posture, sitting elegantly on the chair, and looked at Feng Jin with an arrogant gaze: "Speak, how much consultation fee do you want? My Sheng family can afford it, and we can even give you more."
"Madam Sheng, rest assured. I practice medicine to have a clear conscience. My consultation fees have always been very reasonable and absolutely fair. I will list the prices of the medications used, and Madam Sheng can pay according to the bill."
Feng Jin took paper and brush and listed everything clearly before handing the list to Madam Sheng.
Madam Sheng, with her every gesture exuding grace and nobility, took the list and glanced at it casually: "It's just a mere... what! Thirty-four thousand six hundred thirty-two taels and four qian of gold..."
After reciting the amount, Madam Sheng's shoulders involuntarily trembled. Even all the silver in the Sheng family's treasury combined did not amount to this much.
Despite the Sheng family's vastness and imposing presence, they were actually not very well-off.
The Sheng family, adhering to their ancestral teachings of integrity, had only accumulated moderate wealth over generations. Madam Sheng could not immediately produce so much money.
"What's wrong, Madam Sheng... Do you have an objection to the bill, or... is your Sheng family unable to afford this money?"
Feng Jin accurately pinpointed Madam Sheng's current embarrassment. She clasped her hands together and watched Madam Sheng's face with amusement.
"How could the Sheng family not afford this money? It's just that your consultation fee is indeed quite high... Could it be that you deliberately overcharged, wanting to take revenge on our Sheng family by asking for more consultation fees!"
"How can you speak to my sister-in-law like that? My sister-in-law would never overcharge you. Every herb used for Young Master Sheng the Third is of the finest quality, each worth a fortune. You are ignorant and yet you so casually slander others, throwing mud at them!"
She could endure humiliation herself without complaint, but she could not stand idly by while her sister-in-law was slandered.
Ling Wan, who was usually good-natured and didn't bother with disputes, could no longer tolerate this and directly retorted to Madam Sheng without holding back.
"What right do you have to speak, you mere concubine-born daughter? You are so disrespectful and lack any proper upbringing. Is this how the Ling family educates you!"
Since she couldn't directly reprimand Feng Jin, she figured she could at least reprimand a mere concubine-born daughter. If she couldn't even do that, how could she survive in the capital? The Sheng family's reputation would truly be ruined.
Ling Wan was about to say more and argue with Madam Sheng, but just as she opened her mouth, Feng Jin pulled her behind her.
"Madam Sheng, your words are so sharp. My mouth has always been unrestrained. If word gets out, it will damage your Sheng family's reputation. It would be best to speak more politely in the future."
"Every item listed on this bill is real and true, without any falsification. The Amber Heart-Nourishing Pill that Young Master Sheng the Third is currently taking is made from thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, ginseng from Changbai Mountain, Angelica sinensis, amber... and refined from dozens of medicinal ingredients. Ten taels of medicinal ingredients yield only one pill of the Amber Heart-Nourishing Pill."
Feng Jin, not finding it troublesome, listed them one by one for Madam Sheng. Calculating accounts was her specialty. Since Madam Sheng wanted to settle the bill, she might as well settle it clearly.
As Madam Sheng listened to Feng Jin's explanation, her face gradually darkened. The thick layer of powder could not conceal her pallor.
"Then... it... it also wouldn't cost this much money..."
She said weakly and hesitantly. It was truly difficult for her to produce this amount of money now. Moreover, Xu Bai would need to continue taking medication, and the cost of the medication alone each month was not a small sum.
Madam Sheng instantly regretted her impulsiveness in falling out with Feng Jin.
However, the words had already been spoken, and they could not be taken back. She could not bow down for a meager sum of money and lose the Sheng family's pride.
"Could it be that Madam Sheng intends to renege on the debt today, or is it that the Sheng family cannot afford this money? If that is truly the case, Madam Sheng needs to clarify it with me. I am not someone who presses unreasonably. Everyone has difficulties, and I can understand. I wonder if the Sheng family truly cannot afford this money?"
Feng Jin was certain that Madam Sheng was proud and would never admit to being unable to afford the money, which was why she deliberately provoked her into agreeing.
"The Sheng family has a long-standing foundation, how could we not afford such trivial sums? I will have a maid fetch it now."