In the night, lanterns were lit at Qianjin Hall, and the day’s clamor on the street had also dispersed.

Qi Yue put on her mask and gloves, took her stethoscope, and entered the room hung with “sickroom” lanterns.

Of the four beds, one held a patient. His splinted leg was suspended by wide straps hanging from the ceiling beams. The head of the bed was raised, and the man was being helped to eat. An elderly man was curiously examining the bed.

“How does it just prop up like this?” he muttered.

Hearing footsteps, all three looked over.

“Lady Qi, you’ve come,” the three warmly greeted her, with the elderly man especially grateful as he bowed and nodded.

“What are you eating?” Qi Yue asked with a smile.

“It’s what Lady Qi prescribed – bean sprout and bone soup,” the woman feeding him said.

Qi Yue sniffed.

“Mm, truly fragrant. Elder sister has good cooking skills,” she smiled.

The woman had never been praised like this before and immediately blushed, not knowing what to say. This woman was beautiful and capable, but most importantly, she just gave people such a good feeling – though she couldn’t say exactly how. She just felt willing to listen to this woman speak.

How could such a good woman be unwanted by the Marquis Dingxi household?

Indeed, the affairs of wealthy families were beyond what a village woman like her could understand.

After Qi Yue finished examining the patient, she smiled and gave a few instructions about precautions.

A disciple responsible for care came in from outside to deliver medicine.

“Lady Qi, when can he… be discharged?” the elderly man asked.

“In five days,” Qi Yue said.

Actually, this type of injury was best not moved. In a modern hospital, he’d need to stay at least ten days to half a month, but…

Qi Yue saw the patient’s family exchange glances and obviously breathe sighs of relief.

Firstly, everyone was still unaccustomed to this, and secondly, the cost…

Qi Yue left the sickroom and saw Liu Pucheng’s room still had lights on. Tonight was his shift.

When Qi Yue stood at the door, Liu Pucheng was talking with Zhang Tong. The two stood at the table with counting rods, calculating something.

“…The material and labor costs are enough, but the rest is still insufficient…” Zhang Tong said quietly.

“…I still have a plot of land back home. I’ll sell it first…” Liu Pucheng said quietly.

As they spoke, Qi Yue knocked on the door from outside.

Seeing Qi Yue standing at the door, the master and disciple looked somewhat nervous and quickly tidied up.

“Lady Qi, why haven’t you left yet?” Liu Pucheng said.

Zhang Tong also respectfully called out “Master.”

“I’m leaving now. Thank you for your hard work tonight, Teacher,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

“Child, you always speak so politely,” Liu Pucheng shook his head.

Qi Yue didn’t ask what they were calculating, and Liu Pucheng naturally wouldn’t say.

Qi Yue left Qianjin Hall with Cui Zhi. Under the cover of night, her cheerful expression faded, replaced by a trace of melancholy.

She silently looked at the starry sky, wishing it could be daylight twenty-four hours a day.

During the day, busy with work, but when quiet… this loneliness was truly hard to bear.

“Lady Qi,” Cui Zhi walked beside her and couldn’t help speaking. “Aren’t you tired living like this?”

“Like this?” Qi Yue concealed her dejection and resumed her smiling expression, turning to look at her. “I think being human is always tiring. It depends on how you look at it – doing what you love isn’t tiring.”

Cui Zhi nodded and smiled.

However, Qi Yue looked back at Qianjin Hall – without money, it would be tiring indeed.

Without money, you couldn’t take a single step. Without money, living in ancient times wasn’t easy either.

In the deep night, the Rongan Courtyard was still brightly lit.

Chang Yuncheng placed the sutra on the table. Nanny Su waved at him.

On the kang, Madam Xie had her eyes closed as if asleep.

“This is the sutra I copied for Mother, offered before the Buddha,” Chang Yuncheng said quietly to Nanny Su.

Nanny Su nodded, looking at him with words she wanted to say but didn’t.

“I’ll depart the night after tomorrow. I won’t disturb the household. I’ll kowtow to Father and then leave,” Chang Yuncheng continued.

Nanny Su’s face paled, and Madam Xie suddenly sat up.

“Leave now, don’t wait until the day after tomorrow,” she said sternly.

Chang Yuncheng walked to her and knelt beside the kang.

“Mother, please take care of yourself at home. Don’t argue with Father. When bored, go out for walks. I’ll have someone send letters home every month,” he said.

Madam Xie breathed heavily, staring fixedly at Chang Yuncheng.

“Four years ago, you left because of marrying that woman. Now you’re leaving again because of marriage?” she said through gritted teeth.

Chang Yuncheng lowered his head, then raised it.

“No, Mother. When I left before, it actually wasn’t because of marriage or anything like that,” he said.

He just didn’t want to stay in this house.

Madam Xie laughed coldly.

“Now you say this.” She didn’t believe him at all.

Chang Yuncheng smiled slightly without arguing.

“Yuncheng, get married before you leave, alright?” Madam Xie softened, speaking pleadingly.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her.

“Mother, I’ve already done as you wished. Please also do as I wish,” he said.

Madam Xie’s face filled with anger again.

“So you’re still doing this for that woman?” she said coldly.

Chang Yuncheng lowered his head.

“There’s no point in saying this or not anymore, Mother,” he said. He raised his head and grasped Madam Xie’s sleeve. “I won’t refuse to marry. When I find the person I truly want, I will definitely marry. Mother, is that acceptable?”

Madam Xie’s expression softened slightly.

“That Miss Rao…” she said again.

“Mother, she’s not the one I want,” Chang Yuncheng said simply, cutting off Madam Xie’s words.

Madam Xie clenched her hands.

Yes, only that woman is the one you want…

“It’s getting late. Go rest,” she lay back down and said indifferently. “Let the steward handle the departure arrangements. Going to war is important – how can you just leave like this, as if we’re shameful people?”

Especially at this time! The shameful one was that woman, not their Marquis Dingxi household!

Chang Yuncheng made a sound of agreement and thanked his mother, but remained kneeling.

“What else do you want to say?” Madam Xie, who understood him well, asked.

“Yueniang’s…” Chang Yuncheng began to speak. The two words “Yueniang” sliding past his lips made his heart ache sharply. “…her dowry, give it to her.”

Madam Xie sat up abruptly.

“Dowry? What dowry does she have!” she said angrily. “Don’t forget how she entered our marquis household! She really has the nerve to ask for it! And you really can listen to such things!”

Saying this, she pointed her finger, clean and decisive without wasting words.

“Get out.”

Chang Yuncheng stood and left.

The next day, Madam Xie heard news that Chang Yuncheng was selling his personal landholdings, which made her curse extensively. Just as she was about to scold all the household stewards, someone reported that Old Madam Xie had arrived.

Madam Xie was startled and, ignoring everything else, hurried out to receive her personally.

After the New Year, Old Madam Xie was in good spirits but looked somewhat older.

“Mother, why did you come? It’s such a long way – if there’s anything, just send someone to call me,” Madam Xie said anxiously, supporting her.

Old Madam Xie entered the room with her walking stick.

“Nothing urgent. I heard things were quite lively here, so I came to see,” she said.

Madam Xie immediately looked at the maids and servants around. Everyone shook their heads at her, indicating they hadn’t said anything.

“Don’t look. Yuncheng told me,” Old Madam Xie said as she sat down.

Madam Xie immediately looked angry.

“Enough, sit down,” Old Madam Xie said, glancing at her. “You’re so old but still have the temper of a young girl.”

Madam Xie sat down, still looking indignant.

“He actually disturbed your peace, Mother. He really deserves a beating,” she said.

Old Madam Xie smiled.

“You got your wish,” she said after a moment of silence.

Madam Xie stood up, looking at Old Madam Xie.

“Mother, am I doing this only for myself?” she said with a grieved expression.

“Alright, alright,” Old Madam Xie smiled, reaching out to pull her down. “I’m not here to blame you. Divorced is divorced, thrown out is thrown out. Since you’re destined to be irreconcilable, there’s no need to wrong each other.”

This still sounded somewhat awkward. Madam Xie sat down beside Old Madam Xie.

“I came for just one thing,” Old Madam Xie said.

“Please speak, Mother,” Madam Xie said.

Her expression was unprecedentedly respectful and gentle. If Qi Yue were here now, she would definitely think Madam Xie had been replaced.

“Give her the dowry,” Old Madam Xie said.

Madam Xie stood up abruptly, looking at Old Madam Xie in disbelief.

“This isn’t for her – it’s for Yuncheng,” Old Madam Xie continued, looking at Madam Xie.

“Mother, why should we!” Madam Xie bit her lip.

Old Madam Xie reached out to pull her down.

“Meiniang, why did you give that package of silver to the Wu family’s young master back then?” she said.

Madam Xie’s face suddenly changed. Her body stiffened as she stared at Old Madam Xie, her lips trembling slightly.

Old Madam Xie sighed and patted Madam Xie’s rigid hand.

“When you gave him that silver, did you feel better in your heart? Could you let go a little?” she continued.

Madam Xie’s body trembled. Her ears echoed with Old Madam Xie’s words, but after all those chaotic thoughts, what shone brightly were the four words “Wu family’s young master.”

Wu family’s young master…

Madam Xie touched her face. Though the skin was still delicate, it was no longer the flower of youth.

The young Miss Xie had become Madam Chang, and the Wu family’s young master had become a handful of dust.

“Mother, so you knew,” she murmured.

Old Madam Xie sighed.

“Which child’s thoughts can escape a mother’s eyes? Just like you clearly know what’s in Yuncheng’s heart, don’t you?” she said, smiling and pulling Madam Xie to sit down.

“Then Mother, why did you…” Madam Xie said quietly.

“Why didn’t I say anything?” Old Madam Xie picked up her words, smiling. “How much money did you have? For that package of silver, you didn’t buy a single thing for months, living worse than a maid.”

Madam Xie smiled. This time she smiled with pressed lips, and those usually sharp eyes actually showed some shyness.

Shyness!

Little shame, much constraint.

“I added some more to your bundle, so it would look better when sent out,” Old Madam Xie said, looking toward the door with a reminiscent expression.

Madam Xie stood up and lowered her eyes.

“Mother, I…” she said quietly, her voice hoarse.

“Mei’er, this has always weighed on my heart. All these years, it has weighed on me. Your heart must be the same,” Old Madam Xie interrupted her.

Madam Xie said nothing.

“Speaking of it, Yuncheng’s temperament is more like yours – very stubborn,” Old Madam Xie looked at her and smiled.

“I’m not as virtuous as elder sister. I didn’t teach Yuncheng well,” Madam Xie said quietly.

Old Madam Xie pulled her to sit down again.

“You’re very good, Meiniang. I’ve owed you my whole life,” she said.

“No, no, Mother. I chose to do this myself. It’s not your fault. You tried to persuade me then, but I insisted on marrying over,” Madam Xie shook her head with a firm expression.

Old Madam Xie smiled.

“Give her the dowry,” she changed the subject.

Madam Xie clenched her hands.

“Yuncheng has her in his heart – you know this very well too,” Old Madam Xie continued, looking at Madam Xie. “We can’t keep her, but letting her have an easier time outside will make Yuncheng’s heart easier too, so he can let go – just like you did back then.”