Chang Yuncheng had just stepped out when he saw Chang Chunlan hurrying in with two maids.

“Lord.” She saw Chang Yuncheng and quickly called out.

“Elder sister, why did you come back? How is Yan’er?” Chang Yuncheng asked.

“She’s fine. She just woke up, and Yueniang is watching her. I…” Chang Chunlan hesitated, “I came back to get some things.”

Chang Yuncheng noticed something unusual in her expression, but since she didn’t elaborate, he didn’t ask further and just nodded without speaking.

“Lord, don’t blame Yueniang. It’s all because of Yan’er’s situation that she’s been going out so often and troubling herself, not properly serving mother, losing the proper conduct of a daughter-in-law, so… so…” Chang Chunlan’s eyes filled with tears as she spoke, “It’s all my fault, all mine and Yan’er’s for bringing her trouble… don’t blame her…”

She began crying again as she spoke.

Chang Yuncheng’s expression was complex.

“Elder sister, what are you saying?” he said.

Chang Chunlan knew he was unwilling to discuss this further. Her younger brother had never been one to talk much with others, especially about such private family matters.

“Second brother, you’re a good person, and Yueniang is also a good person. Good people should have good lives. In one’s lifetime, being able to find someone who suits your heart is a blessing that takes several lifetimes to earn.” She sighed and said with a sob.

Someone who suits the heart…

Was this woman someone who suited his heart?

That terrible temper of hers!

“Elder sister, you should hurry with your business. Don’t overthink it. This matter doesn’t really have much to do with mother or with serving or not serving.” Chang Yuncheng said.

Chang Chunlan looked at him, wanting to say more but holding back, ultimately saying nothing.

“Yes, I understand.” she said.

Chang Yuncheng nodded and then strode away.

Chang Yuncheng didn’t ride a horse. Qianjin Hall wasn’t far from here either. As he approached, his steps slowed.

The two servants behind him couldn’t help but feel anxious – he wasn’t going to change his mind again, was he?

“Is she really that good in your eyes?” Chang Yuncheng suddenly turned back and asked.

The two servants were stunned by the question.

Chang Yuncheng laughed after asking, shaking his head. What was he asking! These servants wouldn’t dare discuss their masters.

“Lord, the young madam is really good, very kind to all of us…” one servant said hesitantly.

“Yes, yes, she really gives us courage…” the other quickly added.

Chang Yuncheng’s expression darkened.

“Of course, of course, that’s ultimately because of you, Lord.” the speaking servant quickly added.

Chang Yuncheng suddenly burst out laughing. Passersby on the street were startled. They were about to curse at the madman, but seeing Chang Yuncheng’s dress and bearing, they quickly swallowed their words and hurried away along the wall.

The two servants were even more frightened.

Why was he laughing all of a sudden when everything was fine?

They were used to the Lord pulling a stern face and losing his temper, but this laughing was rare.

Everyone in the household, from top to bottom, liked her so much…

Even if he left and she caused some trouble, she would probably be safe and sound.

It was just mother’s situation…

Chang Yuncheng stopped laughing and sighed softly.

At Qianjin Hall, normal operations had resumed – people seeing physicians and getting medicine.

Chang Yuncheng walked in, and the handyman who saw him was startled.

“Shut up.” Chang Yuncheng stopped the handyman’s prepared commotion, then asked concisely, “Where is she?”

In the patient room, the curtains were drawn open and morning sunlight streamed in. A disciple was spraying medicinal water into corners with a watering can. He had just left when A’Hao came in carrying a bowl of water.

“Young madam, the salt-sugar water is ready…” she said.

Qi Yue was sitting beside the bed, listening to heart and lung sounds with a stethoscope. Hearing this, she removed the stethoscope.

“Yan’er, let’s drink some water.” she said.

Yan’er was awake on the bed. The anesthesia had worn off, and she was enduring the pain and discomfort of the wound. Though her eyes contained tears, she firmly remembered Qi Yue’s blessing and wasn’t crying or making a fuss.

“Young madam, let me do it.” A’Hao said.

“No need, I’ll do it. You watch how I do it first.” Qi Yue removed her gloves and said, “Bring the syringe.”

A’Hao quickly responded yes.

“…Your body is lacking fluids right now, so we’ll first have some salt-sugar water. After noon, you’ll be able to have some milk… Has Yan’er ever had milk?”

Qi Yue fed her slowly with the syringe while talking.

Yan’er took two syringes worth, one mouthful at a time. Although she barely had to open and close her mouth, swallowing was still very painful. Qi Yue nodded with both satisfaction and pity.

“Antiseptic solution and cotton swabs.” Qi Yue said.

A’Hao quickly brought them from the table beside her, watching as Qi Yue bent down and gently wiped Yan’er’s lips with cotton swabs soaked in antiseptic medicine. Yan’er squeezed her eyes tightly shut in fear, her whole body tense, making muffled sounds of endurance.

“Yan’er is so brave!” Qi Yue praised, finishing the cleaning and kissing her forehead.

Yan’er opened her eyes, tears falling, but there was joy in them.

“Good, now it’s reward time.” Qi Yue smiled, sitting down beside the bed. “Would you like aunt to tell you a story?”

Yan’er nodded.

“…Once upon a time there was a farm, and on the farm a mother duck was hatching eggs. The weather was particularly fine – tall trees, deep ponds, sunlight scattered on the water like gold… The duck mother was exhausted, but seeing the duck eggs crack open one by one, she was still very happy. One, two, three… The fluffy little ducklings stood up wobbling… Oh my, why is this little duckling so ugly…”

Not only Yan’er, but even A’Hao beside her was listening with fascination.

A’Ru, who had rested, came out from the room next door and immediately saw Chang Yuncheng standing at the patient room door. She opened her mouth to greet him, but thinking of something, she quickly covered her mouth and slowly retreated.

Que Zhi was walking by and bumped into her.

“What’s wrong, sister?” she asked in confusion.

A’Ru shushed her and pointed outside.

“The Lord has come.” she said in a low voice.

Que Zhi’s eyes immediately brightened.

“The Lord is here!” she immediately walked outside, “I’ll go take a look…”

“What are you looking at?” A’Ru grabbed her and said sternly, “You haven’t slept all night. Go rest now.”

“But I just woke up…” Que Zhi pouted, pointing to the bed.

“Then go back to sleep. You’re on duty tonight.” A’Ru said without room for refusal, pressing her onto the bed.

Chang Yuncheng looked into the room, hearing soft sobbing sounds.

“…Young madam, the little duckling is so pitiful…” This was A’Hao wiping her tears.

Yan’er on the bed was already in tears.

“Oh my, oh my, why are you crying like this… it’s my fault, my fault…” Qi Yue laughed, quickly taking white cloth to wipe Yan’er’s face. “I’ll tell it faster, faster…”

“No!” Yan’er anxiously tried to speak, “Tell it slowly… love listening…”

Qi Yue quickly shushed her, and only then did Yan’er stop talking.

“Don’t open your mouth, don’t open your mouth. If the wound splits, you’ll suffer greatly.” she said, patting her chest.

Yan’er blinked at her to show she understood.

“…So the ugly duckling left the old grandmother’s house, swimming around in the water, but because it was too ugly, the other animals wouldn’t play with it…”

“…These big birds were so beautiful… the ugly duckling had never seen such beautiful birds… it watched the flock of big birds fly away, flying so high, and the ugly duckling spun around on the water surface… these beautiful, happy birds… it dreamed of being as beautiful as them… but how could that be possible? It was so ugly…”

“…What? They say I’m beautiful? The ugly duckling was startled, thinking they would chase it away and peck it with their beaks…”

“…Everyone was gathering around to look, shouting ‘Look at that beautiful swan, it’s the most beautiful swan in the world’…”

“…The ugly duckling felt so happy, but it wasn’t proud at all. It remembered how it had been persecuted and mocked. And now it heard everyone saying it was the most beautiful among the beautiful birds…”

“…When I was still an ugly duckling, I never dreamed I could be so happy…”

Qi Yue patted Yan’er’s shoulder and smiled.

“Our Yan’er is about to become a swan.”

Yan’er’s tears flowed again, her eyes sparkling with excited light.

“Now, you sleep for a while and let your body heal quickly!” Qi Yue said, helping to massage her back and feet.

Yan’er nodded and obediently closed her eyes. Since the anesthesia wore off, the child hadn’t been able to sleep due to pain. But she tried hard to sleep, her hands clenched tightly under the blanket. Sleep, sleep. When she woke up, she would become the most beautiful swan in the world…

Qi Yue rubbed her shoulders and moved her neck to stretch her body.

“Young madam, you should go rest. I’ll watch here…” A’Hao said, then turned around and let out a startled cry.

Qi Yue quickly shushed her and looked over too.

Chang Yuncheng was standing outside the door looking at her.

“Lord…” A’Hao bowed her head in salute.

Qi Yue looked away and ignored him.

“I’m going to rest for a bit. If anything happens, find Physician Liu.” she said, lifting her foot to leave and walking past Chang Yuncheng.

Seeing Qi Yue approaching, A’Ru quickly pulled up Que Zhi again.

“Go, go.” she said.

“Go again? Didn’t you want me to sleep?” Que Zhi said, already being pulled up by A’Ru.

“Sleep what? You’ve slept for half the day.” A’Ru said, pulling her outside.

Que Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, watching Qi Yue step inside.

“Young madam, you should rest quickly.” she hurried to say.

Qi Yue nodded, and A’Ru dragged Que Zhi out.

“Eh? Lord, you…”

As soon as they went out and saw Chang Yuncheng also approaching, Que Zhi’s eyes lit up and she quickly bowed and called out.

“Hurry up, time to prepare medicine.” A’Ru didn’t let her finish and pulled her away.

Chang Yuncheng entered the room. Qi Yue had her back to him.

“If you want to fight, I have no energy right now, and I’m too lazy to talk. Of course, if you have the energy, I don’t mind getting physical…” Qi Yue said, waving her hand.

Chang Yuncheng stepped forward and embraced her.

Qi Yue thought he would say sorry, but he said nothing, just held her tightly with his head buried in the back of her neck.

“Although I have no strength, I’ve already given you an over-the-shoulder throw in my mind.” Qi Yue said.

The man behind her remained silent, just holding her tightly, as if she would disappear if he let go.

He had always liked holding this woman, always thinking it was an instinctive need, but now he realized he liked holding her because it felt warm… Holding her, even if the outside world was freezing, it was warm as spring.

Warmth – long, long ago, from hazy childhood memories, lying in mother’s arms, this was that feeling.