Actually, seeing people’s respectful awe wasn’t particularly gratifying. What was truly satisfying was seeing those who had been waiting for you to pronounce their death sentence suddenly witness you coming to grant them pardon – that kind of surprise, shock, and helpless reaction was the most gratifying of all.

Now the steward was getting his wish, seeing exactly this expression on the Liu family’s faces. He couldn’t help but feel pleasantly itchy all over.

That feeling of controlling people’s joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness was simply wonderful.

The Liu Changqing family was completely dumbfounded.

They could no longer hear what the steward was saying.

Even after the man had taken his leave, they remained wooden, turning to stare at the two gift boxes placed in the reception hall.

Liu Changqing couldn’t help but lose his composure and pinch himself.

It hurt…

“Lord Wang wants to calm the young master’s fright…” he muttered, repeating the words he’d heard from the steward’s mouth, still somewhat confused.

Wasn’t it clearly his son who had offended the Wang family? How was the Wang family instead coming to calm his son’s fright?

Why was this?

This wasn’t the end of it. The next day, a friendly official from the county office rushed over to tell him good news.

“Old brother, the position vacancy in Dongyang County has been decided! Old brother! It’s you!” the official grabbed Liu Changqing’s hand and shook it excitedly.

Liu Changqing’s brain, which hadn’t yet recovered, became confused again.

This… this…

It wasn’t that he hadn’t been interested in this position, but those above had said there were too many competitors – it would never be his turn…

This… why was this?

“What do you mean why? I tell you, it’s because Lord Wang said a word for you…” the official said in a lowered voice.

Crazy…

Liu Changqing could no longer think at all.

What on earth was happening!

“Son, I’m not remembering wrong, am I?” he asked, pulling his youngest son aside. “It was you who besieged the Wang family, not the Wang family who beat us, right?”

Liu Changqing’s family wasn’t the only one with such doubts. Three other families who hadn’t gone to the Wang house also received gifts that the Wang family claimed were to calm their children’s fright, while those families who had participated in the incident were going mad.

How was it that when they went to apologize, they were blocked and sent back, while these few shameless families who hadn’t gone to apologize were personally visited by the Wang family?

Calm their fright?

Who was calming whose fright?

What on earth was happening? Had Lord Wang been driven mad by this incident?

Meanwhile, the Marquis Dingxi’s household was also sending out gifts to calm frights, though they were more thorough than the Wang family – they didn’t pick and choose, and all families who had participated that night received them.

To thank them for their righteous assistance.

Righteous…

Was it because of this?

When they learned that the Wang family and Marquis Dingxi had shaken hands and made peace at the time, these families all understood.

Who knew things would turn out this way!

In the inner quarters, the prefect and his wife were somewhat dispirited, sitting in relative silence.

How could this be? What were these two families playing at?!

“So that’s what teacher meant,” the prefect murmured.

“What do you think Lord Wang means? Is it intentional? Is he trying to embarrass the Marquis Dingxi’s household? Master, why don’t you go to Lord Wang again…” the prefect’s wife chattered endlessly beside him.

“Enough! Ignorant woman!” the prefect suddenly roared.

This was the first time he had ever treated his wife this way. The prefect’s wife was startled and stared at her husband in shock, not daring to speak.

“It’s all because of you, you ignorant woman!” the prefect thought of this incident, both angry and ashamed. “What face do I have to appear before my teacher again! How could you, how could you… why don’t you learn from that Young Madam of Marquis Dingxi! Look at her! Then look at yourself!”

He meant look at her courage, spirit, and luck. The prefect’s wife was stunned, the woman’s charming face floating before her eyes.

The son was bewitched, and the father was also bewildered…

“You heartless man! I’ll fight you!” she shrieked, getting up and reaching for the prefect’s dignified face.

But Qi Yue, the culprit behind the chaos in the prefect’s inner quarters and the confusion of many families, knew nothing of all this.

Despite having the Marquis Dingxi’s protection, Madam Xie still punished her daughter-in-law. She was confined to the house and forbidden to go out, made to kneel before the Buddha in daily penance.

Qi Yue was happy to comply with not going out – it was perfect for healing the injuries on her face. As for the kneeling punishment, who in her own courtyard would dare supervise whether she knelt or not?

“I think it’s still a bit swollen,” Que Zhi said, examining Qi Yue.

Qi Yue looked in the mirror, checking left and right.

“No, it’s fine now,” she said.

A’Hao carefully applied makeup for her while Que Zhi pointed out spots to add powder here and rouge there. Qi Yue smiled and let them fuss over her.

Chang Yuncheng came in.

A’Ru quickly waved her hand, and A’Hao immediately curtsied and withdrew. Que Zhi was somewhat reluctant, glancing at Chang Yuncheng several times. Seeing that the Prince didn’t even look at her, she could only leave sulkily.

“Where did you go?” Qi Yue asked, turning around.

Chang Yuncheng ignored her.

“What would you like to eat? I’m idle with nothing to do, so I could make you something delicious,” Qi Yue said with a smile.

Chang Yuncheng looked up at her.

“So you only cook for me when you’re idle and need entertainment?” he asked.

Qi Yue laughed heartily.

“Come on, are you still angry?” she laughed, taking a few steps closer. “Alright, I admit I went too far with what I said last time.”

“Too far?” Chang Yuncheng asked, looking at her.

Qi Yue pursed her lips in a smile.

“I’ll be more careful next time,” she said instead of answering.

When she smiled like this, with her tone carrying a hint of coquettishness, Chang Yuncheng couldn’t help but feel his heart race.

He couldn’t resist reaching out to pull this woman into his arms.

Qi Yue, caught off guard, tumbled into his embrace, her face immediately flushing red.

“What are you doing!” she said in panic, trying to get up.

But her strength was like tickling compared to Chang Yuncheng’s.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to be with me…” Chang Yuncheng said in a low voice, looking at Qi Yue so close to him.

“I never thought anything of the sort!” Qi Yue firmly denied, pushing against his chest to get up.

Though her words remained defiant, her blushing appearance was far more enticing than her previous fierce demeanor.

Chang Yuncheng was unwilling to let go.

There was a low cough from outside.

Chang Yuncheng paused, his face showing displeasure.

Qi Yue took the opportunity to break free, blushing as she straightened her clothes.

“Prince, Young Madam, the Marquis requests your presence,” A’Ru’s voice came from outside.

“What’s the matter?” Qi Yue asked as she walked.

“Lord Wang has come,” A’Ru replied.

Qi Yue made an “oh” sound.

“Walk faster. What’s there to discuss?” Chang Yuncheng said ahead, slowing his pace.

Qi Yue made a face at A’Ru and quickened her steps to follow.

The steward was leading two or three people to inspect the flower beds, discussing something. Seeing them approach, he hurried over enthusiastically to bow.

“Young Madam, I’ve already given those guards a proper lesson…” he said, remembering something, his expression serious.

“Lesson for what?” Qi Yue asked, confused.

“They were useless, letting Young Madam suffer such humiliation…” the steward said, his face agitated.

Qi Yue made an “oh” sound and laughed.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. The situation was too sudden,” she said with a smile.

“No, no, this was their negligence. But Young Madam can rest assured – this kind of thing will absolutely never happen again,” the steward said loudly.

Chang Yuncheng looked back at him.

“You’re hoping for a next time?” he asked.

The steward immediately raised his hand to slap his own mouth.

“Look at this mouth of mine,” he spat several times.

Qi Yue waved her hand with a smile.

“Also, it’s really strange – there are many more people lurking around our gates…” the steward said, remembering something, with a smile. “Young Madam, can you guess what they’re doing?”

How would I know? Qi Yue looked at the steward with smiling eyes.

“What are they doing?” she asked.

The steward became even more spirited.

“They’re all servants from wealthy families in the city,” he said in a lowered voice. “The gatekeepers caught a few and questioned them. Can you guess what they said?”

Qi Yue was an excellent listener.

“What did they say?” she asked with a smile.

“They’re watching to see when Young Madam goes out to fight…” the steward said with a hearty laugh.

Qi Yue also laughed heartily.

“What do they want to watch me fight for?” she asked with a laugh.

“To help Young Madam!” the steward answered spiritedly.

Qi Yue laughed even more.

“Young Madam, you don’t know. I heard those people say that the last fight has already produced a county magistrate,” the steward said, seeing her disbelief.

He proceeded to tell her about the rumors circulating outside – that the son of Yongqing County’s deputy magistrate had followed the Young Madam of Marquis Dingxi in the fight, which had earned his father a promotion to the actual position of Dongyang County magistrate.

“My goodness, fighting can lead to such benefits?” Qi Yue laughed loudly. “That’s incredible – wouldn’t the whole city be in chaos?”

“Ah, but it depends on who you follow into battle,” the steward said with some pride.

Qi Yue shook her head and laughed.

Chang Yuncheng ahead could no longer contain his impatience.

Laugh, laugh, talk, talk – what was so funny and worth discussing!

“Steward,” he said coldly, turning back. “The training ground surface I asked you to repair – have you finished it?”

The steward, who had been happily laughing with the Young Madam, was stunned.

“Prince, when did you say to repair the surface?” he asked.

“Can’t I say so now?” Chang Yuncheng said with a dark expression.

The steward’s mouth twitched. Fine, of course he could.

“Yes, I’ll go immediately,” he said respectfully.

“You personally supervise it. Don’t let those people ruin it,” Chang Yuncheng said sternly.

The steward agreed again and hurried off.

Only then was Chang Yuncheng satisfied as he turned and continued walking.

Qi Yue walked beside him, just pursing her lips in a smile, not knowing what she was thinking.

Speak up! Weren’t you chatting quite animatedly just now!

Chang Yuncheng glanced at her.

“What were you talking about just now?” he asked.

“Nothing much,” Qi Yue said with a smile, looking at the Marquis Dingxi’s reception hall in the distance. “Let’s hurry. We shouldn’t keep father and the guest waiting.”

She quickened her pace after speaking.

Why weren’t you worried about keeping father and the guest waiting just now?

This annoying woman was deliberately avoiding conversation with him!

Chang Yuncheng gritted his teeth and strode to catch up.

“…What are you talking about? Is it about fighting?”

“…You’re not allowed to go out fighting! Do you still seem like a woman?”

“…How did you find Huang Ziqiao that day? Why look for that child? Wasn’t I at home?”

“…If you had come straight home to find me, would this have happened?”

“…What use could that child Huang Ziqiao be except to cause trouble…”

“…I’m asking you a question, you…”

Chang Yuncheng’s words suddenly stopped because Qi Yue had taken his hand.

Qi Yue pursed her lips and glanced at him sideways without speaking, just holding his hand and walking briskly forward.

This annoying woman… in broad daylight… and in the courtyard… what was she doing…

Chang Yuncheng’s face flushed red. He couldn’t help but look around. Fortunately, there weren’t many servants passing by, and the maids following them were clever enough to walk with their heads down, not looking.

Just… just giving you face…

After a moment’s hesitation, he didn’t pull his hand away, letting Qi Yue pull him forward somewhat stiffly.