After the First Miss left, she felt very uneasy the whole way.

“This way, the Young Madam is truly too humiliated…” she whispered.

“This humiliation isn’t something we wanted to give her,” the Second Miss said, turning back. “It’s mother who wants to give it to her. If we don’t leave, then we’d be humiliating mother. Elder sister, do you want to offend mother for this insignificant person?”

The First Miss naturally didn’t dare, lowering her head and making compliant sounds.

Seeing her like this, the Second Miss became somewhat anxious.

“Elder sister, your temperament is too… sometimes you need to be more assertive,” she said.

The First Miss smiled bitterly.

“What right do I have to be assertive…” she murmured. “A concubine-born daughter, father doesn’t like me, and I gave birth to such a…”

She stopped abruptly at this point, finally sighing and lowering her head.

The Second Miss and Third Miss exchanged glances.

“Elder sister, actually, why must you… insist on bringing Yan’er…” the Second Miss hesitated before speaking.

The First Miss’s steps paused.

“Because I gave birth to her,” she said. Though she still kept her head down, there was a stubborn note in her voice.

The Second Miss was about to say more when the Third Miss reached out to tug at her, shaking her head in warning. The Second Miss sighed and fell silent.

On the way, seeing little maids running about wildly, the Second Miss couldn’t help but scold them.

“What are you doing? Just because it’s New Year, there are no rules?” she said.

“The Young Madam is distributing fruit at Juchun Pavilion and letting everyone watch the opera,” the little maids quickly explained.

The three misses couldn’t help but freeze, turning to look. Indeed, the sound of gongs, drums, and music could be heard from Juchun Pavilion.

This was acceptable?

The three exchanged glances, not knowing what expression to make.

“Her face is truly thick…” the Second Miss finally said. “No wonder she once had to beg for food…”

With complex expressions, the three came to Third Young Master Chang Yunqi’s quarters.

Chang Yunqi’s fever had broken and his spirits were somewhat low, but he was no longer in serious condition.

Since they had all grown up under the old lady’s care, he was very happy to see Chang Chunlan.

“How did you become so worn out?” Chang Chunlan said with concern. “Third brother, your scholarship is good—the county examination won’t be a problem. You don’t need to be like this.”

Chang Yunqi smiled and said it was nothing.

The Second Miss sneered from the side.

“If it were just for the county examination, becoming like this wouldn’t be shameful. But I’m afraid it’s for those improper thoughts, isn’t it?” she said coolly.

“Whatever it’s for, I’m willing,” Chang Yunqi said calmly.

They were blood siblings from the same parents, but their relationship had always been somewhat strange.

“I just don’t understand—for that woman, what exactly are you trying to achieve? Pass the imperial examination? Earn her an official wife’s rank?” the Second Miss said with a cold laugh. “Don’t be foolish! What exactly are you confused about? Always thinking about that woman!”

Chang Yunqi raised his head to look at her.

“Because I was born from her,” he said calmly, neither hurried nor irritated.

At these words, the room fell silent.

The First Miss felt tears flowing down uncontrollably.

“Young Master, the kitchen has sent food,” a maid announced from outside, breaking the awkward atmosphere in the room.

Two servants each carried food boxes, smiling as they bowed to the misses one by one while setting out the meal.

“Why is it specially prepared again? I’m already better—just give me the regular portions,” Chang Yunqi said, looking at the food on the table.

“Young Master, this was specifically ordered by the Young Madam, and she personally designed the menu. She said this is… is…” one servant replied with a smile, unable to remember the term the Young Madam had used, and looked to the other servant.

“Student meal,” the other servant said with a smile.

Chang Yunqi couldn’t help but laugh. Where did all these strange ideas come from…

Looking at the four dishes and one soup on the table—personally selected by her…

“Who?” the Second Miss asked, not having heard clearly.

“The Young Madam,” the servant quickly answered, setting the food box aside. “The Young Madam said Third Young Master has an examination coming up, so this is a major family matter. What he eats, drinks, and uses should be specially prepared. This is called… called…”

“Called ‘one person taking exams, whole family mobilized,'” the other servant picked up, smiling.

What? What nonsense was this?

The Second Miss was too surprised to know what to say.

“I was wondering—a few days ago when I went to the flower garden, I met a maid from your quarters selecting flowers. The flower garden woman, who usually acts superior because of the Young Madam’s favor, was personally accompanying her. When I asked, she said something about examination preparation, maintaining a cheerful mood by looking at flowers and plants—such nonsense. I thought she had changed her ways…” the Third Miss said, remembering something.

Chang Yunqi smiled without speaking.

So this was also her arrangement…

The Second Miss kept a straight face and said nothing.

“Third Young Master, you must eat well. They’ll check when we return, otherwise we won’t be able to explain to the Young Madam,” the servant said with a smile, bowing as she withdrew.

Chang Yunqi picked up his chopsticks with a smile.

“The Young Madam really arranged this?” the First Miss asked, unable to hide her surprise. “Isn’t she… isn’t she…”

Wasn’t she nearly killed by Concubine Zhou?

How could…

“This is just how she is,” Chang Yunqi paused with his chopsticks and said calmly. “Excuse me, I’ll eat first.”

He lowered his head and began eating.

The three misses in the room sat in stunned silence.

What kind of person was she…?

Qi Yue enjoyed this meal very much, and the maids around her had a lot of fun too. Someone suggested passing flowers while beating drums, and Qi Yue joined in with interest. As a result, several bold maids deliberately kept the flowers in their hands several times, causing her to drink several extra cups of wine and tell a few jokes. However, her usually tried-and-true jokes didn’t make anyone laugh.

“Hey, a piece of candy was walking in the snow and felt very cold, so it turned into rock sugar… isn’t that funny?” Qi Yue said indignantly, looking at the maids’ stiff faces.

The maids then laughed dutifully.

Qi Yue clicked her tongue, stood up, and tossed the flower in her hand to the next person.

“Keep playing. I’m going to the toilet,” she said.

A’Ru and A’Hao were about to follow.

“Don’t follow me. We’re at home—I’m not a three-year-old child who needs to be followed everywhere,” Qi Yue stopped them, waving her hand. “Keep playing, tell them a few more jokes to restore my dignity.”

A’Ru and A’Hao both laughed and sat down to continue playing as she instructed.

Qi Yue left the crowd. Instead of going to the toilet, she slowly wandered around the small courtyard. Snow still accumulated on the trees, and red plum blossoms bloomed brilliantly. Standing here, she could hear the opera performance from the stage—truly enjoying flowers and opera simultaneously. She couldn’t help but stop, and was about to look more closely when she heard an “aiya” from behind the rocks, followed by the sound of stones hitting the ground, then several cries of pain as a small figure tumbled before her eyes.

It was a child, a four or five-year-old who had fallen from the rocks.

“Oh my, child, why did you climb so high? There’s snow too,” Qi Yue quickly went to help, scolding as she did.

But the child was so frightened that she trembled all over, struggling to get up and run. Just as she managed to stand, she fell again.

Qi Yue reached out to support her.

It was a little girl.

“Why are you running? Let me see if you’re hurt,” she said with a smile, trying to turn the child around.

The child was shaking like a sieve.

“Mama, mama… I’m looking for mama…” she finally couldn’t control her fear and cried out, her voice unclear—whether from crying or from hurting her mouth in the fall.

“Who is your mother?” Qi Yue quickly asked, seeing the child’s somewhat shabby dress and assuming she was a servant’s child. “I’ll help you call her.”

As she spoke, she helped the child sit properly and saw the child’s face, freezing momentarily.

Was this person wearing a mask?

The child’s hat had fallen off, and a square cloth covered her face, now loosened.

The child struggled to run but was held by the arm. Her large eyes were filled with terror, and suddenly she reached out and pulled off the cloth.

Qi Yue couldn’t help but widen her eyes and cover her mouth with her hand.

Scream! Scream! Are you scared to death?

The child waited for the woman before her to scream and faint like all the others who had seen her, then she could run away.

But to her surprise, the woman only widened her eyes.

“My God, cleft lip and palate!” Qi Yue exclaimed, pressing her hand on the child’s small shoulder. “How old are you? Let me see.”

Because of the two incidents at Juchun Pavilion and Third Young Master’s quarters, the three misses lost interest in talking and soon dispersed.

Chang Chunlan walked back to Concubine Huang’s courtyard feeling restless.

“Miss, have you thought about what to tell the madam? We need some excuse for staying like this,” the woman following her whispered anxiously.

“I… I…” Chang Chunlan stammered, unable to speak.

The woman couldn’t help but sigh and was about to say something when she saw a little maid from Concubine Huang’s courtyard running toward them.

“First Miss, did Little Miss come looking for you?” the little maid called out.

Chang Chunlan was greatly alarmed.

“No, isn’t she staying here?” she asked urgently.

“Just now, just now, Little Miss ran out by herself…” the little maid said timidly.

They searched everywhere around Concubine Huang’s courtyard but couldn’t find her.

“Where could she have gone…” Chang Chunlan covered her face and cried in the room.

Concubine Huang sat nearby, her face even more wan from anxiety.

“As long as she doesn’t frighten anyone…” she murmured, especially the marquis. If by any chance the marquis saw her…

Concubine Huang shuddered.

“Why did you bring her here!” she slammed the table and shouted. “Why must you keep her!”

Chang Chunlan fell to her knees before Concubine Huang with a thud.

“Mother, I know you’re thinking of me, but Yan’er is my daughter. You worry about everything for my sake, so how can I be heartless and abandon her?” she cried, hugging Concubine Huang’s legs.

Concubine Huang also burst into tears, embracing her shoulders.

“My poor child, what sins have we committed?” she cried.

Just as they were crying together, the little maids outside became excited.

“Little Miss has returned.”

This made the mother and daughter in the room startle and quickly stand up.

A pretty maid led the little girl inside.

“Where did you go? Why did you run around!” Chang Chunlan grabbed the little girl and immediately struck her back several times hard, sobbing as she scolded.

The little girl didn’t cry when beaten.

“I wanted to find mama…” she said, hugging Chang Chunlan’s legs.

Chang Chunlan’s raised hand could no longer come down.

“These are fruits Little Miss likes to eat. The Young Madam had them packed in a box—I’ll leave it here,” the previously ignored pretty maid said, placing a box on the table.

Only then did Chang Chunlan think to look at her. Having been married and away for so long, she barely knew any of the household maids and didn’t know how to address her.

“Which courtyard are you from, sister? Thank you so much,” she said gratefully, glancing carefully at her daughter and seeing that her face cloth was properly tied, feeling slightly relieved.

“Are you A’Hao from the Young Madam’s quarters?” Concubine Huang suddenly asked, standing up from the kang.

A’Hao smiled at them.

“Yes, this servant takes her leave,” she said, bowing again before withdrawing.

Concubine Huang and Chang Chunlan remained in the room, still in shock.

“Could it be that she ran to the Young Madam’s place?” Concubine Huang murmured.

“I went to find mama, and then there was a painted-face actor doing somersaults on the stage… so I hid on the mountain to watch… then I met a very beautiful lady…” Yan’er described intermittently.

Concubine Huang and Chang Chunlan exchanged glances, confirming that she had encountered Qi Yueniang.

“As long as she didn’t frighten her,” Chang Chunlan said.

Here, Yan’er climbed onto the kang and took out fruit from the food box, lifting her face cloth to put it in her mouth.

Concubine Huang watched the child eating. Although she still wore the face cloth, it couldn’t hide the horrible sight of her mouth and nose that occasionally showed through. She couldn’t help but turn away, then suddenly turned back.

“Yan’er!” she called out. “Did you eat something at the Young Madam’s place?”