For real?

When Liu Pucheng heard Qi Yue say this, that was his first reaction.

They were colleagues after all, and besides, it was better to resolve grievances than to deepen them. Taking a step back and giving the other party a way to save face would be good for everyone – wouldn’t it be nice to see each other every day with no hard feelings?

Could they really be going to force someone to kneel? This… this… probably wasn’t good.

“Of course it’s for real,” Qi Yue looked at Liu Pucheng with a serious expression. “Otherwise, why would we work so desperately hard!”

Ah? Why? Of course it was to save a life! Liu Pucheng was somewhat speechless. He was about to say something more when Qi Yue had already raised her hand to the crowd.

“Hey, I wonder if Physician Wang Qingchun is ready?” she said loudly. “Everyone has seen the dead come back to life, so do you want to see a living person kneel in the street?”

These words were too crude…

Liu Pucheng and the others, even the doormen and servants of Marquis Dingxi’s household, couldn’t help but frown. But these onlookers were all the most common market folk. They didn’t care about propriety or elegance – they just loved watching people get slapped in the face, and the more painful the slap, the more satisfying it was to watch. With Qi Yue’s words, everyone’s already high emotions were stirred up even more.

Cheers and whistles rose all around. Accompanied by these sounds, the crowd began surging outward.

Soon, the area in front of Marquis Dingxi’s household returned to its usual quiet, with only the clamorous sounds coming from the distance.

The hunter’s family had somehow retreated with the crowd. Standing dumbly at the door were only the disciples of Qianjin Hall and Marquis Dingxi Chang Yuncheng.

Everyone’s face showed disbelief.

“Are they really going to force Physician Wang to kneel…” someone murmured.

What a terrifying scene it would be to have this surging crowd swarm up to the door clamoring for you to kneel.

“Terrifying? Do you sympathize with Physician Wang?” Qi Yue spoke up. She looked ahead with a calm expression, though this calmness carried a hint of restlessness. “What’s there to sympathize with? If we had lost, then I would be the one facing this terror right now.”

It would be me, me, me alone…

You bastards want to bully me? Come on, try it! Bully me, bully me – it’s not that easy!

I have nothing! And I fear nothing!

“There’s nothing to sympathize with and nothing to lament,” she exhaled and slightly raised her chin. “If you dare to play, you must dare to accept the consequences. If it weren’t for Huichun Hall deliberately targeting us from the beginning, instigating these family members to cause trouble, how would we have today’s result? When you come out to play, sooner or later you have to pay.”

When you come out to play, sooner or later you have to pay…

These words passed through everyone’s ears, leaving everyone with mixed feelings.

In fact, this good show didn’t unfold as the people had anticipated. When everyone surged to Huichun Hall to remind Wang Qingchun to honor his bet, Huichun Hall was already empty with its doors tightly closed.

That very day, Wang Qingchun and his entire family left Yongqing Prefecture. Their property and medicine shop were quickly sold off at bargain prices. Overnight, Huichun Hall, which had been famous throughout this street, disappeared from everyone’s sight as if it had never existed.

They really couldn’t handle losing – they actually ran away.

“Ruthless,” Qi Yue sighed after learning of this.

This was the ruthlessness of life and fate – one wrong step and everything was lost.

Chang Yuncheng stood in front of her, watching this woman slowly fold her hands.

“For a woman, this gesture is too unsightly,” he couldn’t help but say.

Qi Yue glanced at him, maintained this posture without moving, and walked forward past him.

Chang Yuncheng turned and followed.

“Why did you think to take responsibility for Qianjin Hall back then?” he asked. “Was it righteousness?”

Qi Yue glanced at him.

“Why did you pull me into the household back then? Wouldn’t this opportunity to drive me away suit you perfectly?” she didn’t answer, instead asking a question.

Chang Yuncheng was somewhat at a loss from her question.

“I keep my word,” he answered sullenly.

Qi Yue actually frowned.

“What word?” she muttered, but immediately stopped pursuing the matter.

The two walked in silence.

“It wasn’t all righteousness,” Qi Yue suddenly said, beginning to answer his question. “It’s very simple – heart for heart…”

She turned to look at Chang Yuncheng and smiled slightly.

“Because Physician Liu is good to me, so I must be good to him,” she said. “It’s just that simple. Otherwise, I’m not some saint or sage with a heart to save the world, stepping forward to manage every injustice I see.”

Chang Yuncheng walked slowly beside her.

A’Ru slowed her steps behind them, keeping some distance.

“Are you foolish or just bold? Didn’t you think about what consequences there might be?” Chang Yuncheng asked after a moment of silence.

Qi Yue snorted through her nose.

“I already said,” she glanced at Chang Yuncheng again, “heart for heart. In the face of such an urgent matter, if I had gone to consider consequences, consider how to arrange and deploy, consider how to explain and operate, consider subsequent gains and losses… then there would have been no need to do it.”

“Why?” Chang Yuncheng asked with a frown.

“Because if I had time to think so much, it would mean this person wasn’t worth me protecting,” Qi Yue said. “I want to protect this person simply because I want to protect him – no reason, no concerns, just when danger comes, I only want to be the first to stand in front, blocking everything, not letting him get hurt…”

Dad, I’m sorry that when I saw you facing doubt alone, I didn’t stand out without care.

Dad, I’m so happy I had a chance to make amends.

This feeling is wonderful!

No reason, no concerns, just wanting to protect in front of her…

These words kept rolling through Chang Yuncheng’s heart.

“If you had lost, would you really have knelt?” he suddenly asked.

Qi Yue turned to look at him.

“Just talk – I’m not some honorable gentleman who keeps his word. There’s no need to take such things seriously,” she showed her white teeth and smiled.

Chang Yuncheng was stunned by her words, then also smiled.

“If I don’t kneel, what can they do to me? Come hit me,” Qi Yue said with a laugh, turning her head to continue forward while shaking her head, her tone rising with a sort of cheeky… cuteness.

The word “cute” floated into Chang Yuncheng’s mind, and he couldn’t help but stop.

Qi Yue paid no attention to his stopping and continued on her way.

Watching that woman walk farther and farther away, disappearing as if he would never see her again, Chang Yuncheng felt his heart panic.

Never see her again…

No…

He didn’t want, didn’t want to never see her again…

“Qi Yueniang,” he called out.

The woman didn’t stop, so he had to lift his feet to catch up.

“That day…” Chang Yuncheng caught up to Qi Yue and said hesitantly after a moment, “about that day, I’m sorry.”

Qi Yue stopped and looked at him with some surprise.

“Which day?” she asked with a frown. “There are too many times you should say sorry – which specific one?”

This woman!

Chang Yuncheng choked.

“Actually, saying it or not doesn’t matter much,” Qi Yue said. “I’ve figured you out – you’re muddle-headed about small things, but you’re still quite reasonable about big matters. Thanks for these recent incidents. Of course I could have handled them myself, but your stepping forward to back me up was still quite helpful. So, thank you.”

She turned to look at Chang Yuncheng and smiled.

This was the first time in days he had seen her smile at him. Chang Yuncheng felt like the huge stone pressing on his heart was lifted, and immediately his breathing became smooth.

This woman… actually getting along and talking with her was really very relaxed… very comfortable…

“Oh right,” after walking a few steps, Qi Yue remembered something and spoke again. “There’s something else I want to tell you. Originally I thought I didn’t need to say it, but it looks like it’s better to speak openly.”

“Go ahead,” Chang Yuncheng said.

“Actually, you don’t need to think so complexly,” Qi Yue considered, raised her hand, then felt she didn’t know how to say it. “You don’t need to torment yourself and me with alternating joy and sorrow because of pressure about whether to be good to me or not…”

Chang Yuncheng looked at her with a frown. What was this nonsense…

“To put it simply,” Qi Yue said, “just listen to your mother. You don’t need to be good to me, and you don’t need to see me as your wife. I know you all don’t like me – it’s nothing, I don’t mind.”

Chang Yuncheng’s expression grew even uglier.

“What nonsense are you spouting!” he said in a low, stern voice.

Still don’t understand? Qi Yue rubbed her hands.

“I’m saying, since your mindset is normal now, then…” she clapped her hands, “let’s talk about divorce.”

Chang Yuncheng looked at her.

This damn woman! This damn woman! Did she know what she was saying?

Divorce…

Chang Yuncheng fiercely shook his hand, his expression becoming very ugly.

“This way both you and your mother will be free,” Qi Yue paid no attention to his expression – wasn’t his expression always like this? “Of course, I’ll be free too.”

Chang Yuncheng took a deep breath and looked at Qi Yue.

“I already said I’m sorry,” he said.

Qi Yue looked at him and nodded.

“Right, so we can calmly and peacefully talk about divorce…” she said seriously.

Before she finished speaking, Chang Yuncheng strode past her and walked away.

Qi Yue was left stunned.

“Hey!” she hurriedly called out.

Chang Yuncheng had already walked far away.

Bastard!

This woman!

Chang Yuncheng had never thought that the word “bastard” could also be used for women, and it was quite fitting when used.

Chang Yuncheng’s sullen anger only slightly dissipated when it was time for dinner, but soon he became restless again.

That woman hadn’t come back at all…

“Go see what the Young Madam is doing. Why hasn’t she come back for dinner?” he suddenly opened the door and shouted.

The maids in the courtyard were startled and hurried off. They returned shortly.

“The Young Madam has already rested,” the maid said carefully.

Sleeping in that courtyard again? Was this woman doing it on purpose? Chang Yuncheng’s hand gripped the door curtain tightly.

“The Young Madam has been sleeping for half a day. Miss A’Ru is also sleeping. Sister Que Zhi and Sister A’Hao said… said to ask the Young Lord to be patient. The Young Madam and the others haven’t closed their eyes for three days and three nights…” the maid said stammering.

Chang Yuncheng’s sullen anger and restlessness immediately dissipated, replaced by guilt and worry.

This woman…

Chang Yuncheng worried all night – did she sleep well? After staying up like this for three days and three nights, would she become ill? Just after dawn, he finally made a decision.

He would go personally to bring her back, personally ask and show concern.

This way, she should stop being angry, right?

Chang Yuncheng hesitated outside the door for a long time, finally gritted his teeth and stepped into the courtyard.

Two maids in the courtyard were tidying up things. Seeing him enter, they both froze, then one immediately lowered her head and shrank back, while the other approached with a smiling face.

“Young Lord, this servant is Que Zhi,” Que Zhi said. “Do you have any instructions?”

Chang Yuncheng didn’t speak. Wasn’t she up yet? With such a commotion, couldn’t she hear? Why didn’t she come out?

“Young Lord?” Que Zhi asked puzzled.

“Where’s the Young Madam?” Chang Yuncheng had to ask, while looking toward the room.

“The Young Madam went to the Marquis,” Que Zhi answered with a cheerful smile.

What? She went to father? Chang Yuncheng was stunned – so early… was she paying morning respects?

Somehow, he felt uneasy.

Similarly, hearing that the Young Madam had come to request an audience, Marquis Dingxi also felt somewhat uneasy.

“Yueniang, so early – why didn’t you rest more?” he said with a face full of smiles, even unconsciously losing his elder’s dignity, directing the servants and maids to quickly pour good tea and bring good pastries.

“I’ve rested well,” Qi Yue said with a smile, neither drinking tea nor eating pastries, just looking at Marquis Dingxi with a slight smile. “So I remembered this urgent matter and came to find the Marquis.”

Marquis Dingxi felt even more uneasy from her smile.

“What urgent matter? Nothing is more important than you resting well, Yueniang…” he said with an even more kindly smile.

Then the next moment he saw the beauty in front of him show him a rather inelegant toothy grin.

“The Marquis truly forgets many things in his nobility,” Qi Yue smiled. Although she had rested for a day and night, her eyes were still red and swollen, looking quite eerie. “About the divorce papers.”