Watching Qi Yue stride forward, A’Ru and A’Hao hurriedly followed.

Only then did Li Tong catch up.

Chang Yuncheng smiled and spurred his horse to follow.

Behind them, Liu Pucheng and others’ carriages also hurried to keep up.

“Master Fan, Master Fan, how has your health been lately…”

Hu San loudly and enthusiastically called out greetings.

Fan Yilin’s face darkened as he quickened his pace, pretending not to see him.

Zhou Maochun watched the lively crowd ahead, gripping the wooden bars of the prison cart and couldn’t help but click his tongue several times.

“People truly make others look bad by comparison, goods make others look inferior by comparison. I’ve really lived this age in vain, not even as good as little children…” he said. Originally mocking, his eyes flashed with a gleam of brightness as he suddenly struck the prison cart door. “Hurry up and move!”

The factory guards, startled into a daze by these suddenly appearing people, were frightened and looked even more embarrassed. They snorted, waved their hands, and pressed the prison cart to move quickly.

“Don’t wander around everywhere, all of you follow me to the yamen for questioning,” one factory guard shouted.

Qi Yue’s footsteps stopped, and she turned back to look.

“Return to what yamen? Have their crimes been determined? Do you have an imperial edict?” Chang Yuncheng raised his eyebrows and sternly shouted.

The original imperial edict had only targeted Zhou Maochun.

Here, Fan Yilin and others also turned around and ran over.

“Right, arrest people? Arrest what people? This young master dares you to try!” he shouted loudly.

Huang Ziqiao fell back a step, angrily spat, and cracked the horsewhip in his hand with sharp snaps, looking like he would strike if they dared mention arresting anyone.

The factory guards looked at these people with both alarm and anger.

“General, you should worry about your own affairs first. Entering the capital privately without edict or orders – we factory guards cannot serve you. You’d better go sit in the Ministry of War yamen,” they said coldly, then looked at Fan Yilin and others. “When your family elders come, we might still show some respect, but you little brats dare threaten us – you’ve lived too comfortably and don’t know your place.”

“In that case, why don’t you all come sit with us,” one of them smiled sinisterly.

With his words, factory guards all around drew their weapons with a sharp sound.

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

Suppressed sounds of chaos arose from the streets around, presumably from people hiding in doorways watching the excitement who had been frightened.

Seeing the atmosphere at a standstill, Qi Yue hurried to speak when she heard another urgent sound of carriages and horses.

More people were coming?

Everyone was quite surprised.

The factory guards were even more alarmed and angry.

What the hell was going on – a group of small physicians, how did they attract so many troublemakers! And it was endless!

Seven or eight horses escorting a luxurious carriage came racing down the main street.

Before the horses had stopped, someone lifted the carriage curtain.

“Aunt.”

Qi Yue and Chang Yuncheng called out simultaneously.

Chen Shi, supported by two maidservants, got out of the carriage and walked quickly forward.

Qi Yue hurried to meet her.

“Aunt, how did you…” she said happily, reaching out her hand.

Chen Shi approached her and raised her hand.

A crisp slap echoed through the street.

“Aunt!”

Chang Yuncheng was alarmed and rushed over.

Chen Shi had already grasped Qi Yue’s hand.

“Come with me!” she commanded, turning to leave.

Qi Yue was somewhat dazed from the slap.

Chang Yuncheng hurried to stop her.

“Aunt…” he called.

Chen Shi stopped and turned back to look at him.

“Chang Yuncheng, must you harm her to death?” she sternly shouted.

Chang Yuncheng’s footsteps were halted by this shout.

Tracing everything back to its source, it was indeed because of him. If not for him, Qi Yue would never have rushed to the northern desert, and naturally would not have…

After shouting, Chen Shi no longer looked at Chang Yuncheng and pulled Qi Yue forward quickly.

“Aunt…” Qi Yue came to her senses and resisted, turning back to look at Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng smiled at her.

“Go with your aunt first. I’ll come find you after I finish my business,” he said. “Following your aunt is the best thing.”

As he spoke, he gestured to Liu Pucheng and others.

Hu San understood and urged the carriages and disciples to follow Qi Yue.

Qi Yue also understood and looked at Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng again made a reassuring gesture to her, pointed at Zhou Maochun, then at himself, then at Qi Yue and the Qianjin Hall people.

I’ll take care of things here, you must take good care of the Qianjin Hall people.

At this moment, Chen Shi’s arrival was the best way to resolve the situation and escape trouble.

Qi Yue understood his meaning and nodded to him.

Chen Shi pulled firmly, and Qi Yue had no choice but to follow her pace.

Only then did the factory guards react and try to stop them.

“How dare you!” the guards who had come with Chen Shi shouted in unison.

The factory guards’ eyes fell on the prominent characters “Duke Chen” on the carriage. Everyone engaged in covert and secretive work knew best which people in the capital could be provoked and which could not. Unfortunately, the Duke Deqing Chen family was one that could not be provoked.

They hesitated and stepped aside, helplessly watching Qi Yue and others follow Chen Shi’s carriage away.

“Boy, this young master remembers you!” Fan Yilin shouted from this side, pointing at the factory guards.

The factory guards were frustrated again.

Little brat, those words are what we elders should say!

Let’s wait and see! The factory guards’ cold gaze swept over the three men.

The three showed no sign of retreat, instead straightening their bodies with an expression of “get a good look at this young master.”

The factory guards spat and, having no mood for further delay, spurred their horses toward the factory guard yamen.

“Aren’t we going to the palace first?” Zhou Maochun asked curiously from the prison cart.

“Master Zhou, you’re probably not convenient to enter the palace right now, all dusty from travel. We need to serve you properly before you can see His Majesty,” a factory guard smiled sinisterly.

Zhou Maochun showed no fear and was actually quite pleased.

“That’s wonderful. I’ve never been to the factory guard yamen – this time I can get a good look,” he laughed.

“Indeed, we guarantee Master Zhou will be so pleased he won’t want to leave,” the factory guards all smiled sinisterly.

Chang Yuncheng simply followed calmly beside them without speaking.

Just as they reached the yamen entrance and were fiercely pulling Zhou Maochun from the prison cart, three people came running from the side.

“Oh Master Zhou, you’ve finally come! Someone is dying of illness – if you don’t come soon, there will be deaths!” the three shouted in unison.

The factory guards glared – were these people blind? Didn’t they know what place this was? Couldn’t they see what kind of people they were?

They actually came here seeking medical treatment!

“Quick, quick, quick, come with us,” the three said, rushing forward to support Zhou Maochun.

“How dare you!” the factory guards roared. “What people dare to stage a jailbreak!”

Before their words finished, they were spat upon by these three.

“You’re the blind ones,” one of them shouted, hurling a token at them. “Would anyone raid their own home?”

The factory guards were somewhat bewildered by the scolding. One picked up the token, looked at it, and was startled. The token was ordinary, but the large character “Fang” on it was very familiar.

It was their direct superior, the Guard Commander.

The three people supported Zhou Maochun and walked away cursing.

“Sigh, I haven’t stayed there yet…”

Zhou Maochun’s regretful voice carried on the wind.

The factory guards at the entrance were somewhat stunned.

Chang Yuncheng at the side coughed. Everyone looked at him blankly.

“What are you looking at? Do you want to invite me in for a sit?” Chang Yuncheng asked.

Without waiting for the factory guards to speak, he flicked his sleeves, turned, and mounted his horse.

“You’re not qualified enough,” he snorted, spurred his horse, and rode away arrogantly.

Behind him, the guards followed with a rush.

In the blink of an eye, the procession that had been escorted all the way from the northern desert consisted only of them and that prison cart.

For a moment, the few felt somewhat dazed.

Had they already returned or had they not yet departed?

What the hell was going on?

How had they reached their doorstep and not a single person remained?

So they hadn’t gone to escort prisoners – they had been bodyguards?

Bah, bodyguards at least get paid! They not only got no money but had put in quite a bit for travel expenses!

What, what was going on?

When Qi Yue and others were entering the city, Marquis Dingxi had already been traveling toward the capital for several days.

“I’m still worried. I want to go with you,” Madam Xie said, trying to get out of bed again.

The matrons and maidservants hurried to console her.

“Madam, your health hasn’t recovered yet. Let’s wait until you’re better before we go,” Nanny Song supported her and said gently. “With the Marquis going, the Prince will surely be fine.”

“It’s precisely because he’s going that I’m worried,” Madam Xie said urgently, raising her hand to wipe tears with her handkerchief.

The servants all hurried to lower their heads, pretending not to hear.

Nanny Song suppressed a smile, helped her sit properly, and brought tea to feed her sip by sip.

“The Marquis is a man after all, with his noble rank, and moreover, this matter originally had nothing to do with the Prince,” she said quietly.

Not mentioning this would have been better – once she mentioned it, Madam Xie immediately trembled all over with anger.

“That wretched woman! That wretched woman! How can we never get rid of her!” she said in a trembling voice. “How is Yuncheng so unlucky! That jinx! She won’t be satisfied until she destroys us all! I should have risked my life to poison her with a bowl of medicine back then…”

Nanny Song sighed and repeatedly consoled her. Just as Madam Xie was feeling better, someone came to report.

“The young master has returned.”

Madam Xie, her emotions not yet settled, was startled by this news.

“Yuncheng has returned?” she shouted, about to rush outside.

Nanny Song and others hurried to support her.

Chang Yunqi walked in from outside the door. Seeing the chaotic scene in the courtyard, he was somewhat surprised and hurried to bow and greet his mother.

Only then did Madam Xie come to her senses.

Young master…

Her Yuncheng had long since outgrown that title.

“How did you come back?” she stopped, composed herself, her eyes not concealing some displeasure and disdain.

“Hearing about elder brother’s matter, I was worried about mother, so I rushed back,” Chang Yunqi said hurriedly.

Madam Xie laughed coldly.

“Your good intentions are rather far-reaching, aren’t they? When your elder brother has trouble, you’re not in the capital but run back to fawn over me, someone with no troubles. How very clever,” she said.

Worried? Nice words – more like fleeing disaster! You useless, heartless, and ungrateful things!

These words were extremely impolite, and all the matrons present lowered their heads.

Chang Yunqi’s expression showed no change, as if he couldn’t hear the sarcasm.

“I couldn’t help much in the capital anyway, and with father having rushed there, you’re unwell, mother. I thought father and elder brother would be concerned about you while away. Rather than being useless in the capital, I might as well return to watch over mother and give father and elder brother peace of mind while away,” he said with lowered head.

Madam Xie snorted and couldn’t be bothered to look at him again, turning to go inside supported by a matron’s hand.

Chang Yunqi spoke to detain her.

“Mother, there’s one more matter. I boldly request mother’s guidance,” he said with some hesitation, seeming somewhat troubled.

Madam Xie gave him an indifferent glance.

“Since you’re being bold, what guidance do you need from me?” she said.

Nanny Song sighed. Madam Xie’s temperament would never change in her lifetime – she never gave anyone face and never hid her likes and dislikes.

Chang Yunqi’s expression remained unchanged.

“It’s like this – on my way back, I met someone who claimed to be mother’s old acquaintance. Hearing that mother was unwell recently, she wanted to come visit. I boldly took it upon myself to bring her here,” he said.

Madam Xie didn’t even look at him and turned to enter the house.

“Madam.”

A soft, timid voice came from the entrance.

Madam Xie paused and turned back to look, unable to help but be astonished.

A slender woman stood outside the door, accompanied by two maidservants, looking troubled and anxious.

“Miss Rao?” Madam Xie somewhat incredulously looked at her and turned around.

Rao Yufang lowered her head and curtsied.

The house filled with medicinal fragrance.

“Madam, it’s time for medicine,” A’Luan entered and said quietly.

Rao Yufang, sitting in the chair, hurried to stand up.

“Please sit. I need to go over there,” Madam Xie raised her hand and stood up herself.

Rao Yufang respectfully watched Madam Xie leave.

Madam Xie entered the adjacent room. Nanny Song hurried to help her lie on the bed while carefully taking out medicine to apply carefully to Madam Xie’s neck.

“Old Physician An’s medicine is excellent – this scar can no longer be seen,” Nanny Song said with a smile.

Madam Xie said nothing, obviously her mind elsewhere.

“How did your inquiries go?” she asked.

“It’s true they met at the post station. Miss Rao had lost her travel pass and was being driven out by the post station people when she encountered Third Young Master,” Nanny Song said quietly.

Madam Xie exhaled and lay quietly for a moment before being helped back by a maidservant.

Rao Yufang had already stood up to greet her. After Madam Xie sat down, she perched on half the chair.

“Being so far away, if Third Young Master hadn’t mentioned it, Yufang still wouldn’t have known…” she said quietly while reaching out her hand.

A maidservant nearby presented a brocade box.

“It was rather hasty – I hope Madam won’t mind,” Rao Yufang said.

“Why bring anything?” Madam Xie shook her head and gestured for a nearby maidservant to accept it.

She looked at Rao Yufang, very different from her last visit. Her clothes, jewelry, and complexion had all declined a level. Her hands resting on her knees showed her wrists – she remembered last time she had worn three bracelets, but now they were bare.

“…pawned jewelry to buy old ginseng…”

Nanny Song’s words echoed in her ears.

So straitened circumstances?

Children without mothers really are…

“Didn’t you say you were engaged? Why are you traveling alone to Quanzhou?” she picked up her tea, sipped slowly, and asked.

Rao Yufang’s expression became desolate, as if she had something difficult to say. She opened her mouth but still gave a vague response without speaking.

How could Madam Xie not notice? She looked at her with some scrutiny.

“What happened?” she asked.

“I, I wanted to visit my maternal grandmother’s home,” Rao Yufang forced a smile.

Madam Xie looked at her without speaking.

Rao Yufang looked back at her, suddenly her eyes reddened and tears fell.

“Madam, I truly envy the Prince,” she covered her mouth and nose with her handkerchief, looking at Madam Xie with a choked voice. “How is it I don’t have an aunt like you?”