Cai Qing walked in from outside, and A’Ru hurried to greet her.

“Madam says thank you to Director Zhou,” she said with a smile.

Zhou Maochun, who was sitting and drinking tea, put down his teacup.

“Don’t mention it, don’t mention it. I watched her grow up, after all,” he said, standing up. “Then I’ll take my leave.”

He was saying goodbye?

A’Ru quickly pulled Cai Qing aside.

“Please let the old director take a look,” she said.

Cai Qing only smiled and shook her head.

Zhou Maochun had already walked out, so A’Ru had no choice but to see him off first.

In front of the door, people were bustling about getting out of carriages, with many servants noisily unloading things from the vehicles.

Chen Shi’s gatekeepers and others were helplessly trying to stop them.

“Our madam doesn’t receive guests,” they said.

“I’m not a guest, I’m Marquis Dingxi, family,” Marquis Dingxi said, wiping his sweat with a handkerchief.

It wasn’t even hot yet, but he couldn’t help sweating—perhaps from excitement at seeing his son and daughter-in-law.

The gatekeepers hadn’t responded yet when he continued.

“Whether she sees me or not doesn’t matter. Is Yueniang here? I just need to see Yueniang. I’m her father-in-law—you know that, right?” he said, unable to suppress a hint of pride.

As soon as he finished speaking, someone spat.

“Shameless! Aren’t you afraid of biting your tongue when you talk like that!” Zhou Maochun glared and scolded.

Only then did Marquis Dingxi notice the old man coming out. This old man looked familiar…

“Director Zhou,” he quickly said with a smile. After smiling, he realized what had happened and immediately darkened his face. “How do you talk?”

Others might be wary of the old imperial physician, but he wasn’t.

What was so great about an imperial physician? His family had a divine physician.

Zhou Maochun snorted.

“My daughter has no father-in-law, only a former father-in-law. If you dare speak nonsense again and ruin my daughter’s reputation for marriage, I won’t forgive you,” he said, glaring fiercely at Marquis Dingxi before getting in his carriage and leaving.

A’Ru called out twice from behind but couldn’t stop him.

Marquis Dingxi also spat.

“Whether your daughter has a father-in-law or not is none of my business. With someone like you, it’s a wonder your daughter could even get married,” he also snorted, while noticing A’Ru’s strange smile and feeling uneasy. “Who is his daughter?”

“Our young lady recognized Director Zhou as her adoptive father,” A’Ru said awkwardly.

Qi Yue and Chang Yuncheng were intercepted by A’Ru on their way back.

“By the way, Li Tong said they’re treating you to dinner?” she was saying to Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head decisively.

“Not going,” he said.

“Why not? They mean well,” Qi Yue laughed.

Chang Yuncheng snorted.

Mean well? The drunkard’s intention wasn’t the wine—saying they were treating him, but really wanting to treat Qi Yueniang.

Qi Yue laughed heartily.

“Then I just won’t go. You can go alone, have dinner, and annoy them at the same time,” she laughed.

Chang Yuncheng shook his head.

“I don’t have time to mess around with them,” he said, turning to look at her. “I have to leave in a few days.”

Qi Yue smiled at him.

A’Ru came to meet them with several servants.

Qi Yue thought something had happened to Chen Shi, but after listening, she learned that Marquis Dingxi had come.

“Father came?” Chang Yuncheng was also surprised.

“Yes, the Marquis heard that Miss Qi… and also that you, young master, had gotten into trouble, so he rushed over,” a servant quickly said.

Father had actually come for him. Although it was mostly for Qi Yueniang, regardless of who it was for, when he heard of trouble, his first thought was to rush over, not to avoid it. And it wasn’t just a thought—he had acted on it. Chang Yuncheng felt strange in his heart.

“Truly, fatherly love is like a mountain,” Qi Yue said with a suppressed smile, leaning slightly toward Chang Yuncheng and lowering her voice. “Moved? Want me to lend you my shoulder to cry on?”

Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but laugh, raising his arm to gently bump her.

“How is Madam Chen?” Qi Yue asked A’Ru quietly. “Did he examine her?”

“No, Madam said she was fine and wouldn’t let the old master examine her,” A’Ru said quietly.

Qi Yue frowned.

“Never mind, I’ll discuss it with my adoptive father when I see him,” she said.

Marquis Dingxi had reserved an entire floor of the capital’s finest restaurant. Upon hearing this, Qi Yue couldn’t help but shake her head.

“This is too extravagant,” she said.

Approaching the room, she could hear Marquis Dingxi’s booming voice from inside.

“…Not extravagant, nothing is too extravagant for hosting Director Zhou… Director Zhou took such pains to diagnose my wife’s illness back then, such kindness I can never forget…”

“But it seems the Marquis forgot when he saw me just now…”

“How could that be? Impossible!”

“Hmph, no need to remember anyway. I wasn’t the one who cured your wife.”

“Yes, yes, Yueniang cured her. Now that Yueniang is your adopted daughter, we’re family—why distinguish between yours and mine? Come, come, Director Zhou, try this wine. It’s special good wine unique to our Yongqing Prefecture…”

“The wine is indeed good.”

“If you like it, Director, quickly send all that wine to the Director’s home.”

Hearing this, Qi Yue and Chang Yuncheng didn’t dare listen further and quickly pushed open the door.

Marquis Dingxi was urging servants to move the gifts.

“Not just wine—I brought a whole cartload of various rare items, all to be sent to the Director’s home,” he said loudly.

“That’s not appropriate. You should keep them for giving to others,” Zhou Maochun frowned.

“They’re specifically for you, Director!” Marquis Dingxi said shamelessly.

Even ghosts wouldn’t believe that!

Marquis Dingxi had naturally come to the capital to seek connections, but after arriving, the matter had already been resolved. He certainly wouldn’t go around giving gifts to people anymore; on the contrary, he was waiting for others to give him gifts.

After all, she was the daughter-in-law of the Marquis Dingxi’s household!

Of course, before waiting for others to give him gifts, he had to resolve one matter first.

“Father.”

“Marquis.”

Seeing Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue enter, Marquis Dingxi was overjoyed.

Zhou Maochun snorted.

“Yueniang, come here,” he said with a stern face.

Qi Yue smiled obediently and walked over.

“How many times have I told you to be careful? This is the capital. As a woman, don’t walk too close to men casually,” Zhou Maochun glared and scolded.

Qi Yue just smiled with pursed lips.

“Not casually, not casually. How can you say casually?” Marquis Dingxi quickly said, personally pouring wine for Zhou Maochun and offering it with a hair-raising smile.

“What are you trying to do?” Zhou Maochun glared.

“Director, I’ve been terribly worried, never imagining such a godsend as you,” Marquis Dingxi smiled. “If you would speak up, these two children’s matter would be much simpler.”

Zhou Maochun immediately understood his meaning and spat.

“What matter? Don’t randomly connect things. My Yueniang has nothing to do with your child anymore. There’s no matter,” he snorted.

Marquis Dingxi didn’t care about his expression and sat down beside him.

“Director, this can’t be delayed any longer. Look, it’s rare for everyone to be together. Let’s settle it quickly. The two children are in love…” he chuckled.

Zhou Maochun leaned away to avoid him.

“In love? Are you joking? Then how did they become former husband and wife?” he snorted.

“It’s all my fault!” Marquis Dingxi said cleanly, draining his wine. “I’ll accept punishment. As long as you’re willing to speak up and request imperial grace, I’ll go before the palace to apologize with thorns on my back without blinking.”

This was the first time Zhou Maochun had met such an unreasonable person. He was already recognized as difficult to deal with, but compared to Marquis Dingxi, he was far behind.

This man dared to say anything!

Zhou Maochun finally admitted defeat and fled, while Marquis Dingxi pursued his victory, following with a cartload of gifts.

Qi Yue didn’t even have a chance to ask about Chen Shi’s condition.

Walking out, she saw another familiar face.

“Young master, the Ministry of War’s official document has arrived. You’ve been demoted two ranks and fined one year’s salary,” Jiang Hai said with a bitter face.

Chang Yuncheng was unconcerned.

Although he was punished this time, surely no one would be so blind as to come and kick him while he was down.

The Emperor’s temperament was like this. If you were wrong, you’d definitely be punished, regardless of the reason. But this didn’t mean he was targeting this person or disliked them.

“Hey, Jiang Hai,” Qi Yue greeted with a smile. “You’re back too?”

Jiang Hai covered his face with his hand.

“Madam, I didn’t know you were the madam…” he said awkwardly.

“I didn’t tell you,” Qi Yue smiled.

“It’s not your fault, not your fault,” Jiang Hai quickly waved his hands. “It’s all the young master’s…”

Chang Yuncheng coughed heavily.

“The official document has arrived, so it’s time to leave. Why aren’t you going to pack?” he said with a stern face.

Jiang Hai made an “oh” sound and hesitated, not wanting to leave.

“Don’t you have something to ask your adoptive father? Go quickly,” Chang Yuncheng said, pulling Qi Yue away without allowing argument.

Jiang Hai stood there looking lost.

A’Hao walked past him, snorting with her nose in the air.

“Serves you right,” she said.

Jiang Hai came to his senses and saw her, blinking his eyes.

“Miss A’Hao,” he grinned, producing a silk flower from behind his back like magic. “This is the most famous silk flower from Liaodong. I specially brought it back for you—there’s only one.”

A’Hao was dumbfounded.

With a suppressed cry of “Ah,” Madam Xie woke from her dreams again, hearing faint sounds of movement outside.

“Madam, you’re awake?” Rao Yufang walked over with small steps, asking with concern while taking a teacup from a maid behind her.

“I slept too long this afternoon,” Madam Xie said quietly, pressing her chest.

“Next time I’ll wake you up, Madam,” Rao Yufang said, sitting by the bed and offering her the teacup.

“That would be troublesome for you,” Madam Xie smiled, taking the tea and drinking a sip to calm her nerves.

Seeing her lost in thought, Rao Yufang didn’t speak.

“Is there news from the capital?” Madam Xie asked loudly.

Nanny Song, who was standing in the outer room, quickly walked in.

“Yes, the third young master just came by. He said it’s fine—the Emperor won’t pursue Qianjin Hall’s matter. Not only won’t he pursue it, he’s agreed to their methods,” she smiled.

Madam Xie’s face darkened.

“Who asked about her!” she slammed the teacup to the ground.

Everyone in the room was startled.

Rao Yufang’s expression remained unchanged as she gently patted Madam Xie’s arm.

“Madam, Nanny Song means that since the young master was implicated by Qianjin Hall, if Qianjin Hall is fine, then the young master will naturally be safe too,” she said softly.

“Yes, yes, Madam, that’s what this servant meant—the young master is fine,” Nanny Song quickly said.

Only then did Madam Xie’s expression soften slightly.

“You’re getting worse at speaking. You should have just said the young master was fine. Why bring up all that nonsense?” she said, taking a deep breath and getting out of bed.

“What exactly was said?” she asked again.

“Demoted two ranks, fined salary,” Nanny Song said directly this time.

Madam Xie’s figure paused.

“This is called fine?” she demanded with raised eyebrows.

Nanny Song became somewhat flustered from the scolding.

“Madam, being willing to punish means the Emperor doesn’t blame him. Still, appearances must be maintained—otherwise, where would imperial authority be?” Rao Yufang said softly again.

Madam Xie laughed coldly.

“The one who should be punished isn’t my Yuncheng, but that lowly servant. Punishing her wouldn’t serve as an example?” she said, walking a few steps and becoming increasingly angry. “Always being implicated by that lowly servant! There’s never been anything good! That bastard Yuncheng just won’t listen to me!”

“Madam, this shows the young master values loyalty and righteousness,” Rao Yufang said quietly.

Madam Xie laughed coldly, supporting herself on the table.

“Has the letter to Shandong been sent?” she suddenly asked.

Hearing her suddenly mention this, Rao Yufang looked uneasy and lowered her head.

Nanny Song quickly responded yes.

“It should have arrived by now,” she said.

“I’m afraid Madam will suffer undeserved disaster,” Rao Yufang said quietly.

“What undeserved disaster? Proposing such a match to you—aren’t the Rao family people afraid of being pointed at behind their backs? How can they bully an orphan like you? Besides, we arranged the match first,” Madam Xie snorted. “Don’t worry about it. This is adults’ business. I’ll handle it with your family.”

Saying this, she let out a long breath and pondered briefly.

“We’re going to the capital,” she said.

Ah?

Both Rao Yufang and Nanny Song were stunned.

Going to the capital!