The night was deep as Chang Yuncheng stepped into the room. The room was already lit with lamps, but it felt empty and cold.

Qi Yue wasn’t home, having taken three maids with her.

Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but look back at the courtyard, which also felt empty.

Qiu Xiang, who was following behind him, read his expression.

“The young madam won’t return tonight. She and the young ladies are all staying at Qianjin Hall. The maids have already sent bedding over.” she said in a low voice.

Chang Yuncheng turned around.

“Did I ask you about this?” he said with a stern face.

Qiu Xiang lowered her head, not showing any fear.

“…Lord, this servant knows you’re worried about Yan’er. Miss Yan’er’s surgery went very smoothly. When the maids came back to get things just now, they said she had already… um… that… anesthesia recovery… anyway, she woke up…” she said with a smile.

Why didn’t you say this first? Chang Yuncheng glanced at the maid but said nothing, just grunted in acknowledgment.

He stood looking at the room for a moment, then turned and went out.

“Lord.” Qiu Xiang, who was about to help him remove his cloak, called out in confusion as she hurried to follow.

“I’m going to the study.” Chang Yuncheng said and strode out.

At Qianjin Hall, right next to the operating room was a newly arranged patient room.

“I’ll count one, two, three, and everyone lift together.” Qi Yue said.

“Young madam, let me do it.” a disciple said, wanting to take over the middle sheet that Qi Yue was holding.

“No need, this is the first time, I’ll do it. You can do it next time.” Qi Yue said.

Although it was a simple bed transfer, Hu San, Coffin Boy, and Zhang Tong, each holding a corner, were also slightly nervous.

With Qi Yue’s count of one, two, three, Yan’er was steadily moved to the gurney.

Chang Chunlan was already waiting in the patient room. Seeing her unconscious daughter being wheeled in, she couldn’t help but shed tears.

Using the middle sheet to transfer beds once more, A’Ru led Que Zhi and A’Hao to help cover Yan’er with blankets and set up the blood pressure monitor and thermometer.

“It will be very painful, won’t it?” Chang Chunlan asked Qi Yue with a sob.

Having witnessed the surgery process firsthand, Chang Chunlan didn’t know how she had managed to get through it. If she had known it would be so frightening, she would have preferred not to have the surgery at all…

“An ugly caterpillar must endure the pain of breaking out of its cocoon to become a beautiful butterfly.” Qi Yue smiled. “Anesthesia was used during surgery, so it won’t hurt. It’s just that after surgery…”

Chang Chunlan looked at her with teary eyes.

“But pain is also a good thing. Only through pain can one grow. First bitter, then sweet; first pain, then joy.” Qi Yue smiled and patted Chang Chunlan’s shoulder. “Alright, you can stay here tonight to keep watch. I’ll be here too. Don’t worry about anything. In half a month, you’ll be able to see a new Yan’er.”

Walking out of the room, the disciples in the courtyard hadn’t dispersed yet. Liu Pucheng was directing several disciples in sterilizing instruments and disinfecting the room. Old Physician An was watching carefully from the side, occasionally asking a question or two.

Seeing Qi Yue come out, everyone quickly stopped what they were doing.

“Thank you for your hard work.” Qi Yue looked at everyone and smiled, then habitually clapped her hands.

This “thank you for your hard work” made everyone feel flustered.

“What hard work did we do…”

“It’s you who worked hard, young madam…”

The disciples reacted with confused chatter.

“Surgery cannot be done well by one person alone.” Qi Yue smiled while calling to Hu San, “Hu San, go see which restaurant is still open and have them deliver a banquet. I’m treating everyone to a late-night meal.”

The disciples had never received such treatment before and didn’t know how to react for a moment. Hu San already knew Qi Yue’s temperament, responded loudly, and ran out to change clothes.

“Miss Qi, you’re making it impossible for me to manage in the future.” Liu Pucheng shook his head and smiled.

Qi Yue laughed heartily.

“It’s fine, teacher. You do what you can do, and I’ll handle the rest.” she smiled.

Liu Pucheng shook his head with a smile.

Old Physician An had been sitting quietly to the side, and hearing this, he also smiled slightly.

Qi Yue walked over.

“Physician An, it’s getting late. You should go home and rest.” she said.

“I only regret that this disciple is disabled and cannot serve master…” Old Physician An said.

Qi Yue burst out laughing.

“Physician An!” she raised her voice, “You’re really serious about this!”

Physician An smiled. Just from those words, this girl – yes, she was a girl – this girl had left an impression on him as a crude, ignorant, and dark woman. But seeing her in person, although the words he heard were still arrogant and sharp, she felt refreshingly straightforward, honest, and open.

What a strange feeling indeed.

“The young madam has worked hard today. I’ll take my leave first.” He didn’t answer but said this instead, cupping his hands in salute.

Qi Yue didn’t mind and nodded with a smile, saying “good.”

She had said she was always a polite person, as long as the other party was polite. From beginning to end, Old Physician An had been very polite. This elder gave her the same feeling as Liu Pucheng. As for that Young Physician An…

“Can’t Young Physician An leave yet?” Qi Yue quickly asked, “Did you give him sugar water to drink?”

Young Physician An was a bit weak, and Qi Yue felt it shouldn’t be from fainting at the sight of blood. After all, he was a physician. Even if he wasn’t a trauma specialist, he couldn’t have never seen blood. So it must have been from shock.

A disciple quickly answered that they had prepared it and he had drunk it and eaten.

“Useless. Miss Qi, don’t bother with him.” Old Physician An shook his head. “Young men, please help carry him to the carriage for me.”

Since Qi Yue’s arrival, the disciples at Qianjin Hall increasingly felt respected. Tasks they used to do routinely were now prefaced with “please,” “if you would,” “thank you for your trouble” – it really… really felt wonderful.

Several disciples chuckled and responded, hurrying off to help.

At the street corner, Chang Yuncheng had been standing for quite a while. The lanterns hanging outside Qianjin Hall swayed in the wind, just like his heart: Go in? Don’t go in! Don’t go in? Go in!…

The one having surgery was his niece – it would be perfectly normal for him as her uncle to visit!

Chang Yuncheng finally lifted his foot, but then heard sounds. Qianjin Hall’s door opened, and he hurriedly hid in the shadows. He saw two disciples first helping a man onto a carriage, then wheeling out a wheelchair, and then he saw that woman’s figure.

Chang Yuncheng’s heart couldn’t help but race. Under the bright red lantern light, that woman’s smiling face was illuminated…

As if he hadn’t seen her for a long time, Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but stare at her face, reluctant to look away…

Until the area in front of Qianjin Hall became quiet again after the carriage departed.

That woman smiled and said something to Liu Pucheng. From beginning to end, the smile never left her face.

She… was so happy… wasn’t she upset at all about today’s events? Or was she hiding it in her heart?

Chang Yuncheng stood in the shadows, pulling his clothes tighter to avoid making noise in the night wind.

Qi Yue and the others quickly went inside, and the door was closed again.

Only then did Chang Yuncheng slowly emerge, walking right up to the door. In the night wind, he seemed to hear laughter and conversation from inside. He raised his hand but ultimately didn’t knock.

Not knowing how long he stood there, he heard a commotion as several people came running from down the street, chattering and laughing.

“…I told you to change that dish to roasted pig’s head, but you wouldn’t listen…” Hu San complained, then suddenly froze. “Eh?”

He looked toward the road.

“Senior brother, what’s wrong?” The other disciples quickly looked where he was looking, but saw only the deep night and the dim street.

“I think I saw someone…” Hu San frowned, looking up.

“Good thing we’re here now and not at the morgue, or you’d be trembling with fear again…” the other disciples laughed.

“The one trembling with fear is my junior nephew.” Hu San glared. Hearing footsteps behind him, he quickly urged everyone to go in, “Quick, the food is here. Quick, clear a place…”

Everyone responded and went through the door. Before entering, Hu San looked once more toward the road.

“Looked like the Lord?” he muttered to himself. Someone inside called for him, so he responded and hurried in.

Following close behind was a carriage loaded with food boxes, with no fewer than seven or eight workers following, creating a bustling scene as they began entering Qianjin Hall. The entire street became lively.

Chang Yuncheng stepped out from the shadows at the corner, looked once more at Qianjin Hall, then turned and strode into the night.

Chang Yuncheng spent a restless night in the study. As dawn was just breaking, he called in a servant and handed him a letter.

“Go…” he began.

Before he could finish, the servant happily took it.

“This is for the young madam, right? I’ll deliver it right away and make sure no one else sees it.” he said with a beaming smile.

Thank heavens, the Lord was finally going to apologize to the young madam.

Chang Yuncheng’s face immediately turned black as a pot bottom.

“Get out!” he shouted, kicking the servant, “Take it to Young Master Fan in the capital.”

The servant was kicked to the ground, his face pale with fright. Oh my, he’d guessed wrong…

Not daring to say another word, he scrambled up and ran off.

Chang Yuncheng’s overnight sullenness hadn’t dissipated and now added depression.

Why did everyone think he should bow his head to that woman?

He stood glumly at the study door.

“Lord.” Two servants approached and bowed respectfully.

These were Marquis Dingxi’s attendants. Chang Yuncheng grunted in acknowledgment.

“The Marquis asks you to go bring the young madam home.” the servant said.

Chang Yuncheng kept a stern face and said nothing.

The servants also said nothing, just stood respectfully with lowered heads, unmoving.

After a long while, Chang Yuncheng grunted.

The servants still stood without moving.

“Is there something else?” Chang Yuncheng asked.

The servants looked up with somewhat embarrassed smiles.

“The Marquis asked us to accompany you, Lord.” they said.

Accompany? More like escort him there!

Chang Yuncheng’s expression darkened again. His fists clenched, then finally relaxed as he lifted his foot and stepped forward.

Fine, this wasn’t his choice!

The two servants breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing the Lord didn’t hit them.

They hurried to follow.

They hadn’t gone far when they encountered the steward, who looked at Chang Yuncheng with a relieved smile.

“Are you that idle? What are you doing wandering around here?” Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but angrily demand.

Did everyone want to watch the spectacle of him bowing his head to that woman?

The steward continued smiling, not showing any fear despite Chang Yuncheng’s poor attitude.

“No, no, I was checking to see if they were slacking off. The corners and edges never get cleaned properly.” he answered earnestly.

Chang Yuncheng snorted coldly through his nose.

“How truly hard-working of you, making a special trip here to inspect!” he said, emphasizing the words “special” and “here.”

The steward bowed respectfully.

“Not hard work at all, this is what this old servant should do.” he said earnestly.

Should do! Which household’s steward’s job includes being wholeheartedly concerned about whether the young master and his wife have made up after a fight!

Chang Yuncheng strode past with a dark expression.