Duke Chen’s family had three daughters. Chen Shi was the youngest, with two older sisters above her. The eldest married into the prominent Xu family of Jiangnan, the second into the prestigious Rao family of Shandong. The current Grand Secretary of the Xianzheng Hall was this second daughter’s husband.

This couldn’t be the legitimate daughter of Chen Shi’s sister, could it? How could a legitimate daughter easily leave home? Going to maternal grandparents’ house would be possible, but coming this far to an aunt’s house would be quite unlikely.

Madam Xie understood Chen Shi’s meaning in an instant.

She wanted her to look the girl over as a potential match…

By rights, Marquis Dingxi marrying a daughter of the Rao family would be a suitable match, but that was for legitimate daughters. As for concubine-born daughters…

But any family with official titles or hereditary positions would seek legitimate sons for their legitimate daughters. Even becoming a second wife was rare, let alone becoming a concubine.

“This is my brother-in-law’s younger brother’s daughter. Her parents died early, and she’s been raised by their side all along,” Chen Shi said with a smile.

A legitimate daughter of the Rao family!

Madam Xie was somewhat surprised, but this child whose parents died young…

Still, a child of the Rao family, raised by Duke Chen’s daughter, would naturally be well-bred.

“I thought so – she has such refined bearing, as if cut from the same mold as you,” Madam Xie smiled, extending her hand, “Come, let me have a look.”

Yufang walked over with lowered head, placing her hand in Madam Xie’s.

Her palm was round and smooth, with no nail polish, neatly trimmed, with good bone structure and flesh – exactly the type Madam Xie favored most.

Madam Xie looked at her face, growing more satisfied the more she looked.

Nanny Su had already gone to prepare a meeting gift when Madam Xie extended her hand, and now hurried over with it.

“Here, take this to play with. I didn’t know you were coming, so don’t mind if it’s simple,” Madam Xie smiled, handing her a set of three twisted silver bracelets.

Yufang accepted them graciously, thanked her, and stepped back.

“Yinglan, take Yufang to visit your eldest sister-in-law,” Chen Shi said.

Madam Xie said nothing.

“Oh,” Chang Yinglan slowly responded, bowed to Madam Xie, and took her leave.

“Go ahead,” Madam Xie said with a smile.

Chang Yinglan left the room and stood in the corridor without moving. Yufang quietly followed behind her, neither urging nor rushing.

“Eldest sister-in-law is very boring and doesn’t like talking to people. She’s the most uninteresting,” Chang Yinglan turned to whisper to her, “Let’s go play with Shulan instead.”

Yufang’s eyes held a smile.

“Sister, I heard from Nanny Wang that Second Sister seems to be… not quite convenient?” she said quietly.

Yinglan was startled, then remembered that Concubine Zhou had suddenly been sent to the family temple. Although officially it was said to be for praying for the Old Marchioness’s blessings, even three-year-old children in the marquis household didn’t believe such words. Second Miss’s birth mother was Concubine Zhou. Though there was no real relationship, she had still voluntarily closed her doors to visitors.

This woman knew everything! She’d only been here a few days!

“It’s fine. Things become convenient when I go,” Yinglan said.

Yufang smiled knowingly and lowered her head, saying nothing more.

The two began walking out again. Just as they were about to leave, they heard someone walking hurriedly behind them.

“…If he’s not well, your heart feels even worse… What’s the point of you mother and son tormenting each other like this!” Chen Shi’s voice came through.

Yinglan, concerned about her mother, quickly turned around. Yufang followed suit, seeing Chen Shi hurrying out of the room without assistance, with Madam Xie and maids and servants rushing after her.

“Mother,” Yinglan immediately ran back over.

Yufang naturally followed.

By the time they arrived, Chen Shi had already entered a room.

“Get up quickly. Your aunt says to let you get up,” her voice came from inside.

Madam Xie also lifted the curtain and went in, while the servants and maids stopped at the doorway.

“This is…” Yinglan looked puzzled.

“This is the room where the former mistress’s spirit tablet is kept,” a servant woman whispered to her.

Yinglan understood. The former Marchioness was the current Marchioness’s own sister. Other households’ second wives would be superstitious about having the previous wife’s spirit tablet in their courtyard, but young Madam Xie didn’t mind. From the day she married in, she had moved her sister’s tablet over, and it had remained there ever since.

“Who’s inside?” she couldn’t help but wonder.

Before she finished speaking, a voice came from inside.

“I’m fine, Mother.”

The Lord…

Yinglan was even more shocked, turning to look at Yufang beside her.

Yufang looked over with some curiosity.

Chang Yinglan bit her lip and turned to leave.

“It’s nothing. Let’s go,” she said, pulling Yufang along.

Yufang made an acknowledging sound and nodded obediently, following her.

They had only walked a few steps when they heard the curtain rustling behind them and the servants stirring. Chang Yinglan couldn’t help but stop and look back, and Yufang naturally looked back as well.

Among the group of women stood a tall young man with his head lowered, seemingly looking at his legs and feet. Although they were far away, Rao Yufang still caught a clear glimpse of his appearance. She couldn’t help but freeze for a moment, then her face slightly reddened as she lowered her head.

It must be him…

“What’s wrong with Brother Lord? His legs and feet seem unsteady…” Chang Yinglan couldn’t help herself, glancing at Yufang, “You go out and wait for me first.”

Rao Yufang was somewhat amused and glanced at Chang Yinglan.

Chang Yinglan also felt she had been rude after speaking.

“Wait here for me. I’ll go see what’s wrong,” she said awkwardly. Without waiting for Yufang’s response, she hurried over.

After Chang Yuncheng entered the room, there was a flurry of activity.

“Rub it with medicinal wine…”

“We should still use some ointment…”

Looking at the bruises on his knees when he rolled up his trouser legs, Madam Xie finally couldn’t help but cry.

“I’m fine, Mother. This doesn’t even count as a superficial wound,” Chang Yuncheng said, smiling.

“Go get eldest sister-in-law to take a look,” Chang Yinglan called out.

With these words, the room fell quiet.

The atmosphere became somewhat strange…

Chang Yinglan was somewhat confused. She hadn’t said anything wrong – eldest sister-in-law was a divine physician, wasn’t she the most suitable person to look at this?

Hesitation appeared on Madam Xie’s face.

“No need,” Chang Yuncheng smiled and said, patting the medicinal wine on himself a few times, pulling down his trouser legs, then standing up and walking a few steps.

“See, it’s nothing,” he said.

Madam Xie looked at her son with relief, joy, sadness, and various emotions, crying even harder. She nodded, covering her mouth with her handkerchief.

But crying sounds came from outside.

It was a woman’s low, suppressed sobbing.

Everyone in the room was startled and looked outside. They couldn’t see anyone through the thick door curtain.

“Miss Rao, what’s wrong?” some maids and servants asked carefully and nervously.

“Nothing, nothing. I was improper,” a soft female voice came through, “I just… I just felt moved by life experiences… I thought of my parents dying early… I don’t even know what it feels like to be punished by parents to kneel…”

Chang Yinglan was almost furious hearing this. So your family treated you too well! You’re actually lamenting that no one scolded or beat you.

But Madam Xie and Chang Yuncheng here had different feelings hearing this.

Chang Yuncheng’s gaze looked toward the door again.

This glance was caught by both Chen Shi and Madam Xie.

“Yinglan, how are you treating your sister?” Chen Shi scolded quietly, “How can you treat a guest like this?”

Who wanted to treat such a guest like this? Chang Yinglan couldn’t hide her anger, but didn’t dare make her mother angry. She bowed heavily and stomped out.

“Let’s go quickly.”

The sound of light footsteps faded away.

“She’s your aunt’s sister’s daughter,” Madam Xie seemed to mention casually to Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng made an acknowledging sound, and Madam Xie didn’t mention it again, pulling him to sit down and continuing to ask about his injuries.

At this time, the atmosphere in the back courtyard of Qianjin Hall was also somewhat tense. Many people surrounded in a circle.

Everyone held their breath nervously, watching as Hu San slowly inserted a thin, long tube into the water bucket bit by bit.

When it turned at one position, several bubbles gurgled up.

“Still not working…” everyone sighed in unison.

Qi Yue stood up, looking at several tubes thrown aside.

“The seal isn’t tight enough,” she murmured, “It would cause infusion contamination… I was being too fanciful. Even the 1950s hadn’t solved this problem, and I want to solve it now…”

Everyone looked at her with dejected expressions.

“Master…” Hu San was even more ashamed, as if the tube not working was all his fault, “That leather craftsman said if it doesn’t work, he’ll return the money…”

Qi Yue glared at him.

“Isn’t the man’s skill worth anything?” she said, “How can that be? Don’t you dare ask him for money back. I can’t afford to lose that face.”

Hu San scratched his head and smiled.

“It’s fine. It’s normal for this not to work. It would be abnormal if it did,” Qi Yue looked at everyone’s dejected expressions and smiled, waving her hand, “Come, let’s try this siphon again.”

Someone immediately brought another basin of water.

Qi Yue quickly used the siphon to draw water out. Everyone cheered.

Qi Yue also sighed in relief, rubbing her aching hands. Although it wasn’t very user-friendly, it was at least usable. It was somewhat of an achievement.

“These are gloves,” Qi Yue handed the diagram she had just drawn to Hu San.

“Gloves?” Hu San looked at the diagram with some confusion, “Are they like the ones you often wear, Master? Those leather craftsmen can’t make those…”

Qi Yue smiled and explained to him what they were for and what effect they would have. As for the rest, she’d let the leather craftsmen figure it out. Professional matters were best left to professionals.

Liu Pucheng still hadn’t returned. Qi Yue asked Zhang Tong about the questions she didn’t understand from last night’s reading, then went back. Her most urgent task now was to memorize these principles and methods by rote, then learn through on-site observation.

Chang Yuncheng didn’t return until very late. When Qi Yue heard him enter, she happily came over to greet him.

“Hi, I made a siphon today, although it’s not very user-friendly…” she said with some desire to share her happy mood.

Chang Yuncheng neither looked at her nor acknowledged her, letting Qiu Xiang help him remove his clothes.

“What’s wrong with your leg?” Qi Yue was halfway through speaking when she saw him walking inside with somewhat stiff legs and feet, limping. She quickly asked.

Chang Yuncheng still didn’t answer, and when entering the bedroom, he tripped on the threshold.

Qi Yue quickly reached out to steady him.

“Are you injured? Let me see…” she said.

“Get away,” Chang Yuncheng, being supported by her arm, reacted as if electrocuted, violently shaking her off and shouting.

Qi Yue was unprepared, and being bent over to look at Chang Yuncheng’s leg, this forceful shake hit her shoulder heavily, sending her stumbling backward.

The sound of porcelain shattering, a wooden stand falling to the ground, with a decorative vase breaking and rolling in pieces.

Qi Yue staggered a few steps, grabbed the partition frame, and steadied herself.

Chang Yuncheng rigidly withdrew his extended foot and outstretched hand, looking at this woman’s shocked expression, his clenched fingernails cutting into his palm.

What a familiar scene… How long had it been, and she had already forgotten.

Qi Yue composed her shock and smiled.

She clapped her hands, looked at Chang Yuncheng, then raised her hands to make two pushing gestures at him. Without saying anything, she lowered her hands and turned away.