That evening, Madam Xie waited for a long time but heard no commotion from Chang Yuncheng’s courtyard.

“Why didn’t he give that woman a hard time?” Madam Xie was very puzzled.

Chang Yuncheng indeed hadn’t given that woman a hard time. When he returned, he directly asked why she hadn’t gone to pay respects to Madam Xie in the morning.

Qi Yue explained properly that because Yan’er’s surgery was approaching and only the most important anesthesia issue remained, she had gone to Qianjin Hall early in the morning to inquire about it. It wasn’t that she deliberately avoided going to Madam Xie’s place—she simply couldn’t spare the time.

Chang Yuncheng made an “oh” sound and his expression relaxed.

“You should have told mother, so she wouldn’t misunderstand.” He said, reaching out his hand.

Qi Yue placed her hand in his and leaned into his embrace.

“Yes, I forgot. It was my fault. I’ll remember next time.” She laughed, then gave Chang Yuncheng a quick kiss.

Chang Yuncheng’s face flushed red on one side.

“Good that you remember, otherwise mother will think you’re being perfunctory with her, lacking sincerity.” He said awkwardly.

“Those who are sincere will see my sincerity.” Qi Yue laughed.

Chang Yuncheng felt there was something odd about these words, but looking at the woman pressed against him, he couldn’t think about anything else.

“So, is it alright now?” He asked in a low voice, rubbing her waist.

Qi Yue could tell what he was asking from his expression and giggled.

Chang Yuncheng’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Not yet.” Qi Yue shook her head with a smile.

Suddenly raised laughter rang out in the room. Outside, Qiu Xiang and A’Ru quickly waved for all the maids to disperse.

Early the next morning, in Rong’an Courtyard, Madam Xie still didn’t let Qi Yue, who had come to pay respects, enter the room.

“This wretched servant is truly like a lingering ghost!” She pressed her fingers to her temples and said hatefully.

Nanny Su brought her tea.

“Madam, why not let her come in?” She said quietly.

“What? Do you want to curry favor with her too?” Madam Xie asked with a snort.

Nanny Su smiled.

“Miss, you’re too angry to think clearly and don’t understand this woman’s little tricks.” She laughed, “She’s doing this solely to please the Prince. The more you refuse to see her, the more wronged she appears before the Prince. Gradually, the Prince will think that you’re… being unreasonable and deliberately making things difficult for her.”

“He wouldn’t dare!” Madam Xie put down her hand and raised her eyebrows.

Nanny Su looked at her and sighed.

“Madam, are you unable to think of this or unwilling to think of it?” She said, “Just now the Prince’s expression was clearly somewhat displeased, and he kept looking outside…”

Madam Xie’s expression darkened as she exhaled.

“Now, we shouldn’t stoop to her level. Doesn’t she want to establish proper conduct? Then let her do it. Whether or not to let her establish it is your business, Madam, but how well she does it is her business.” Nanny Su knew she understood in her heart, so she continued with a smile, “Before Miss Rao enters the household, what we need to do is keep her waiting. If you ignore her, she naturally won’t have opportunities to make a fuss, and the Prince naturally won’t pay attention to her either. This prevents the Prince from being won over by her. When Miss Rao enters the household, no matter how much she struggles, what can she accomplish?”

Madam Xie nodded.

“The Marquis’s memorial has been written.” She smiled at Nanny Su—this was the only thing that could make her happy this New Year.

Nanny Su was also pleased.

“It shows that the Buddha knows of Madam’s devotion.” She chanted Buddha’s name.

“That Miss Rao has good family background and good looks. Once she’s married in, the Marquis will know what a true lady from a great family is like.” Madam Xie laughed with a snort, “He’ll realize how embarrassing it is to dote on this wretched servant. When he discovers he’s been disgraced…”

The result was predictable.

Nanny Su nodded.

“So, Madam, there’s no need to get angry with that woman. When she comes to curry favor, let her come. Whether it’s good or bad, don’t you have the final say?” She smiled, “This way she won’t bother the Prince.”

Madam Xie nodded.

At lunchtime, Chang Yuncheng naturally came to accompany Madam Xie again.

“Call your wife over.” Madam Xie said to Chang Yuncheng, who was about to personally select dishes for her.

Chang Yuncheng was stunned and didn’t react immediately.

“You’re a grown man, not a child anymore. Now that you have a wife, she should naturally do these things.” Madam Xie said, then smiled slightly, “I just don’t know if having her do this would disrupt proper conduct.”

Only then did Chang Yuncheng understand, and he was immediately overjoyed.

“How could it? This is the proper conduct she should have.” He said hastily, quickly urging a maid to call Qi Yue over, afraid that if he spoke slowly, Madam Xie might change her mind.

Seeing him like this, Madam Xie’s face couldn’t help but darken. Nanny Su quickly exchanged glances with her, and only then did Madam Xie lower her eyes without saying anything.

“She wants me to come eat?” Qi Yue was very surprised to hear the maid’s words, then smiled at A’Ru, “Wonder what method she’s thought up to deal with me now.”

A’Ru didn’t know what to say.

“Young Madam must endure.” She could only say.

“Fine, no problem. I’ve been a resident doctor—what can’t I endure?” Qi Yue laughed.

A’Ru shushed her, fortunately the other maids paid no attention to her words.

Qi Yue went straight to Rong’an Courtyard. This time the maids in the courtyard had pleasant expressions, all smiling as they announced her arrival and lifted the door curtain.

“Mother.” Qi Yue performed a courtesy, already prepared not to be told to rise.

Madam Xie made an “mm” sound.

“Rise.” She said.

So quick! Qi Yue looked suspicious but still quickly smiled her thanks and stood up.

“I know you want to show some filial devotion. I don’t have other tasks for you, but if you don’t mind the work, you can help me arrange dishes and serve rice.” Madam Xie said with a neutral expression—neither pleased nor displeased. She smiled as she continued, “In other households, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but our family has never had this custom. I’m afraid you might feel…”

“Yueniang is delighted!” Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but interject, looking at Qi Yue.

Qi Yue smiled, seeing this man’s excited and careful expression. She didn’t know how many good words he’d said for her in front of Madam Xie.

Since she liked this man, she couldn’t let him be caught in the middle.

“Mother, what are you saying? This is my honor.” She said, walking over to take the chopsticks from the maid’s hands.

Madam Xie indeed had no additional rules. After she finished eating, she didn’t even send Qi Yue away but let her eat there too, making Chang Yuncheng so happy his face beamed with joy.

Watching Chang Yuncheng’s appearance, Qi Yue couldn’t help but want to laugh, then shook her head. She hadn’t missed the flash of anger in Madam Xie’s eyes.

Silly boy, I know you’re happy because mother accepted me and you think the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is finally harmonious, but your mother might only think you’re happy because you’re protecting me.

Acting like this will make her angrier with me.

Back in their courtyard, Chang Yuncheng couldn’t wait to embrace her.

“Now it’s good—mother finally accepts you.” He said joyfully, giving her a heavy kiss.

Qi Yue was amused by him.

“Not at all, it’s just the beginning. It’s too early to say such things.” She laughed, pinching Chang Yuncheng’s nose.

“How could that be? You should trust mother.” Chang Yuncheng frowned.

This woman was always guarded against mother—that wasn’t good…

“It’s not being guarded. How could it happen so fast? It’s not normal.” Qi Yue laughed.

“Mother feels sorry for me and understands my worries, so she’s acting this way. Don’t think nonsense.” Chang Yuncheng said somewhat unhappily.

Qi Yue smiled. That was right too—when a mother doesn’t want to see her son caught in the middle, compromising a little and giving her son face to make him happy and at ease was normal.

“Alright, I understand. Since mother dotes on you so much, I naturally can’t fall behind. I’ll dote on you very much too.” She laughed, reaching out to pinch his nose again.

Chang Yuncheng smiled, slightly lifting his head to avoid her, then opened his mouth to catch Qi Yue’s finger.

“So dirty.” Qi Yue laughed, trying to pull back.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and gave it a gentle bite before releasing it.

“Are you a dog? There’s a tooth mark now.” Qi Yue said, shaking her finger.

Chang Yuncheng leaned closer.

“Want one somewhere else too?” He asked in a low voice.

Though they hadn’t truly been intimate yet, they had slept together several times, so these little married couple flirtations already had mutual understanding.

Qi Yue immediately knew what he meant and blushed as she reached out to pinch his face.

“No!” She said with a snort.

Chang Yuncheng loved hearing this.

“‘No’ means ‘yes.'” He laughed, scooping this woman up in his arms.

Qi Yue cried out.

Where did this annoying man learn such strange theories! She remembered—he had muttered something about “no means yes, can’t means can” before…

“Hey, what nonsense are you talking? I’m not interested in playing riddles with you or playing hard to get…” She said with a laugh, gripping the man’s arm.

Saying one thing but meaning another… Chang Yuncheng smiled without speaking.

Qi Yue was amused by his expression and reached out to embrace his neck.

“Hey, stop fooling around. I need to go out for a bit while I have time. The surgical table was delivered today, and I want to see if it’s suitable so I can quickly perform Yan’er’s surgery. Otherwise, the mother and daughter will keep worrying, and being mentally tense isn’t good for the surgery either.” She laughed.

Chang Yuncheng stopped walking but was still reluctant to put her down.

Qi Yue actively embraced him and gave him a kiss.

This woman was just too forward… he loved it!

Chang Yuncheng immediately couldn’t lose his masculine pride and responded enthusiastically.

After quite a while of intimate touching, the two reluctantly separated.

“Come back early…” Chang Yuncheng said, holding her hand.

Qi Yue couldn’t help but laugh again.

Look at this man acting like a little wife!

“What are you laughing at!” Chang Yuncheng glared again.

Qi Yue made a zipping motion at her mouth and suppressed her laughter.

Now Chang Yuncheng laughed. This woman always had so many amusing gestures…

He imitated her, reaching out to pinch this woman’s cheek.

“Tonight will be alright, won’t it?” He asked, his hand slipping under her clothes to caress her.

Standing so close, Qi Yue could clearly feel the changes in a certain part of this man’s body. She blushed and made a disapproving sound.

“Not yet.” She said, pushing away his hand while calling loudly for A’Ru.

The door curtain rustled, and Chang Yuncheng had to withdraw his hand and put on a proper expression.

But Qi Yue smiled at him.

“Tomorrow night.” She said.

Chang Yuncheng immediately reached out his hand, but the maids all came rushing in, so he had to withdraw it and watch that woman smile smugly as she went to change clothes.

Arriving at Qianjin Hall, a large group of apprentices were all gathered around the surgical table, staring in fascination.

This was a bed higher than what they usually slept on. Though called a bed, in everyone’s eyes it looked more like a board—a seemingly movable board. Above the board were mounted three frames holding polished, gleaming bronze mirrors, with candle stands positioned below the mirrors. All in all, it looked quite strange.

Since there was no need to consider various surgical instrument configurations, this surgical table was simply designed for the convenience of medical staff operations, so it was quite simple.

“Come on, who wants to lie down and try it?” Qi Yue said with a laugh, beckoning.

The other apprentices pushed each other back and forth, all too embarrassed to lie down and let Qi Yue examine them so closely. Naturally, this task fell to Hu San, and the room was bustling with noise.

Outside, a carriage stopped, and a man jumped down. Together with a servant who hurried over, they lifted the curtain and brought down a wheelchair from the carriage. Then he turned his back and carried an elderly man down from the carriage.

The old man sat properly and looked up at the door plaque.

Qianjin Hall.