When they emerged from the Wang family compound, the night was already very late. The half-grown children who had originally surrounded the Wang family gate were all gone without a trace. The night wind swept past the quiet and peaceful entrance, as if nothing had ever happened.

Returning to the Marquis Dingxi estate, everyone was anxiously waiting at the gate. The steward had even summoned all the guards in full armor. When they saw Marquis Dingxi’s group appear at the street corner, they couldn’t help but stir with excitement.

“What are you all standing here for?” Marquis Dingxi held his head high, trying hard to be serious and composed, but his mouth involuntarily splitting into a grin simply couldn’t be suppressed, ruining his affected calm and nonchalance.

Aside from what he said, every gesture and expression was wildly shouting: Come worship me and welcome me—I’m so proud!

The steward naturally understood his master’s intentions and rushed over in a few steps.

“My lord, you were too impulsive! How could you do such a thing…” he shouted loudly, as if Marquis Dingxi had gone to slay demons and monsters.

At the same time, he gestured to those behind him.

Immediately all the servants and guards started shouting in confusion—nothing more than “My lord, you’re too amazing,” “My lord, this was too dangerous,” “My lord, please don’t do such things in the future.”

“My lord, in the future let us handle such matters. You are the head of the family—just by standing here, you shield us from wind and rain. If we let you come forward personally again, it would be the death of us,” the steward said chokingly.

“What are you saying? I just went to negotiate with the Wang family. What does the Wang family amount to? They’re not some fierce tigers or savage beasts, hahahaha…”

Marquis Dingxi waved his hands and finally couldn’t suppress his loud laughter as he swayed inside.

Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue, following behind, couldn’t help but lower their heads.

Madam Xie stood in the courtyard watching them enter, her feelings complex. Her son was safe, the marquis estate was unharmed—these were what she had prayed for while chanting Buddha’s name. But that woman…

Why did that troublemaking woman always have to be tied together with her son and the marquis estate!

That’s why they could always turn danger into safety!

Madam Xie clenched her fists tightly and went toward Chang Yuncheng.

“Eat first,” she said with concern.

Marquis Dingxi laughed heartily.

“No need—we already ate at Master Wang’s house,” he said with some boasting.

Madam Xie and the others were even more shocked to hear this. After such a commotion, the Wang family had still provided a meal?

Marquis Dingxi was waiting to see everyone’s surprised expressions, his entire body’s pores opening with contentment.

So the feeling of standing out and showing off was this good!

Qi Yue stood behind, and for the first time seeing Marquis Dingxi’s comical pride, she didn’t want to laugh. She turned to look at Chang Yuncheng being pulled by Madam Xie. When Chang Yuncheng arrived and Marquis Dingxi suddenly appeared too, she had felt equally shocked. Beyond the shock was a kind of bitter feeling. This bitter feeling wasn’t unpleasant but rather very warm…

Here, finally there were people who would stand up for her, who would risk everything for her?

This time, the people of this family wouldn’t hide but would stand out to protect her.

Did they consider her family?

Did she also have family here?

“Father,” Chang Yuncheng suddenly called out.

Marquis Dingxi, who was enjoying the comfort of the pretty concubines who had come upon hearing the news, was startled by his son’s call.

Of course, Chang Yuncheng calling him father wasn’t strange—it was just that today this “father” felt somewhat odd.

But Chang Yuncheng said nothing more, just lowered his head in a bow.

“Father has worked hard. Please rest early,” he said quietly.

Marquis Dingxi was busy enjoying the beauties’ compliments and waved his hand casually, indicating he could withdraw.

“Father.”

Another person called out “father.”

This time it was Qi Yue.

Chang Yuncheng, who had just raised his head, looked over with a slightly stunned expression.

This woman—since that doctors’ betting incident, this was the first time she’d used the address “father”…

Marquis Dingxi looked over. He hadn’t paid attention to changes in how his daughter-in-law addressed him. He was stern with his son but couldn’t put on a sour face with his daughter-in-law.

“You should also go rest quickly. The injury on your face…” he said with concern.

“Thank you, father,” Qi Yue smiled at him, though at this moment her smile could hardly be called captivating.

“What are you saying?” Marquis Dingxi laughed heartily. “We’re family—what’s there to thank? Go quickly, go quickly.”

Qi Yue bowed again, then also bowed to Madam Xie.

“Do you know your error?” Madam Xie didn’t let her rise but asked coldly.

Chang Yuncheng opened his mouth to say something, but Qi Yue spoke first.

“I know I was wrong,” she replied.

This answer left Madam Xie, who had accumulated countless scolding words, breathless.

Chang Yuncheng looked at Qi Yue with an even more softened expression.

“I shouldn’t have acted rashly on my own. I should have come back to find father, mother, and Lord first. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have escalated like this,” Qi Yue added.

Madam Xie had to swallow back her prepared “What exactly were you wrong about?”

“Is that all? This is all about you not following women’s proper conduct…” she said sternly.

“Enough—knowing the error is sufficient. She’s still injured, so let her go rest,” Marquis Dingxi interrupted from the side.

“My lord,” Madam Xie turned to look at Marquis Dingxi with a frown.

As father-in-law, he shouldn’t interfere when mother-in-law was disciplining daughter-in-law, but Marquis Dingxi laughed heartily.

“Everyone’s tired today—whatever needs to be said can wait until tomorrow,” he waved his hand.

Since Marquis Dingxi had spoken, Madam Xie couldn’t argue further. Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue bowed and withdrew.

Madam Xie watched her son and that woman leave together, feeling extremely irritated.

“My lord!” she turned back to look at Marquis Dingxi, who was surrounded by women and laughing radiantly. “Have you finished writing the memorial?”

When Qi Yue and Chang Yuncheng returned to their courtyard, there was naturally another commotion.

“No need to fuss—this will reduce in a few days…” Qi Yue said with a smile. “Why are you crying? Even if my looks were ruined it wouldn’t matter, and besides, they’re not ruined…”

A’Ru, A’Hao, and Que Zhi wiped their tears.

“Enough, go down,” Chang Yuncheng said with a frown after washing up and seeing the room still crowded with maids.

His maids obediently withdrew, while A’Ru, A’Hao, and Que Zhi stood hesitating.

“Go ahead,” Qi Yue smiled, instructing Que Zhi: “Rest these few days, don’t stand duty. Being kicked by that wretched old man, you’re injured too, aren’t you?”

Que Zhi rubbed her waist and nodded pitifully.

“It hurts a lot,” she said. “Just now Sister A’Ru already looked at it and said to apply some medicine and rest well. Young Madam needn’t worry.”

A’Hao rolled her eyes. What kind of servant was this? Even if her head were cut off, shouldn’t she say it was just a bowl-sized scar?

“Then go rest quickly. Tomorrow I’ll have Dr. Liu prescribe some medicine,” Qi Yue said hurriedly with a smile.

Que Zhi didn’t decline but thanked her repeatedly before withdrawing with A’Ru and A’Hao.

The room fell into quiet.

“Today…”

After thinking for a moment, Qi Yue looked up at Chang Yuncheng and began to speak, but unexpectedly Chang Yuncheng also spoke at the same time.

Both were startled and then both stopped.

“Thank you for today,” Qi Yue smiled.

Chang Yuncheng felt irritated seeing her swollen face trying to smile.

“Thank what thank? Is saying sorry useless and saying thank you useful?” he said disagreeably, sitting down nearby. “Just be smarter next time.”

Qi Yue made an “oh” sound.

The two fell silent again.

“Anyway, you and father were able to arrive, and I… um… I feel very…” Qi Yue spoke again, seeming to make some resolution as she stood before Chang Yuncheng. “I, Qi Yue… damn, I’m not the type to pretend ignorance while understanding clearly. I’ll remember your kindness, and in the future I’ll definitely…”

Chang Yuncheng watched the woman before him showing signs of chest-thumping determination and oath-making, his mouth twitching.

This stinking woman really took herself for a man!

“You’re still pretending ignorance while understanding clearly!” He reached out to grab Qi Yue’s arm. “Why do we protect you? For your kindness? What bullshit? You’re my woman. You’re the young madam of Marquis Dingxi’s estate—what reasoning is there to think back and forth? Any man wouldn’t let his woman be bullied!”

Qi Yue looked at him—this man gripping her arm tightly, his hands solid and full of strength.

She made a dazed “oh” sound.

Fine, she’d go all out. What was there to fear? She’d already died once. What else was scary? She’d just be husband and wife with this man. At worst, she’d be betrayed once more. Which modern person hadn’t been hurt by love two or three times—you couldn’t even call yourself modern otherwise!

“Alright then, let’s sleep,” she said through gritted teeth, reaching out to put her hand on Chang Yuncheng’s shoulder.

One sitting, one standing, eyes meeting.

“What?” Chang Yuncheng didn’t react immediately and asked.

“Sleep!” Qi Yue answered roughly, simply lifting her leg to sit on his lap.

She was already old enough—might as well go all out.

Chang Yuncheng looked at the woman before him with half her face swollen, eyes mismatched, showing a man-eating expression. Whether from shock or fright, he was actually speechless.

The two maintained this position in a daze for a moment.

“You, with your ghostly appearance now, who, who would sleep with you!” Chang Yuncheng reacted first, his face flushing red.

Qi Yue jumped up from his lap as if electrocuted. Though her face also flushed, she still breathed a sigh of relief and spat.

“Fine if you don’t want to,” she fled into her side of the room and blew out the lamp.

Chang Yuncheng remained sitting in the chair in the same position, seemingly not yet recovered from this sudden event.

What did this stinking woman mean?

Like in opera lyrics—repaying life-saving grace with her body?

This stinking woman—what did she take him for!

He looked darkly at the darkened room.

Maybe he should just…

He stood up and walked a few steps, but finally stopped himself, turned around, and went to his own side.

Hearing the footsteps finally leave, Qi Yue, biting the quilt, breathed a sigh of relief while couldn’t help but smile, burrowing into the covers to find a comfortable position and closing her eyes to sleep peacefully.

The Wang family and Marquis Dingxi’s family, the main characters in the incident, slept peacefully that night, but countless families in the city couldn’t sleep.

Wang Tongye heard reports before dawn that the prefect had arrived. Though he didn’t want to see him, he couldn’t refuse.

In the main hall, the prefect, who had obviously not slept all night, looked haggard as he hurriedly bowed to Wang Tongye.

“So early—what’s the matter?” Wang Tongye looked at him with a frown.