The atmosphere in the room suddenly became strange.

“If it weren’t for mother’s sake, even a hundred words from me wouldn’t matter.” Qi Yue laughed, using her chopsticks to pick up a piece of vegetarian fried golden sparrow to change the subject. “Mother, try this dish.”

Madam Xie didn’t accept it, neither warmly nor coldly.

“I don’t like eating this.” She said.

Qi Yue’s hand, halfway through serving the dish, stopped awkwardly.

Ridiculous—if she didn’t like it, why would the kitchen make it?

“Yes, I didn’t know.” Qi Yue smiled and put it back. “Then what does mother like to eat?”

Madam Xie didn’t even lift her eyelids.

“You don’t even know what I like to eat. Your efforts are quite insufficient.” She said indifferently.

Well then…

“Yes, I’ll try harder. Will mother give me a chance?” Qi Yue smiled.

Madam Xie put down her chopsticks and looked up at her.

“Then let me tell you the first thing.” She said, “I love quiet and can’t stand noise, especially you always laughing like that—it irritates me just watching.”

Qi Yue wanted to roll her eyes. You’re not irritated by my laughter; you’re irritated by the sight of me…

“Yes.” Qi Yue suppressed her smile. “Thank you for the instruction, mother.”

Madam Xie looked at her.

“Now you look all wronged, as if I’ve mistreated you.” She frowned.

Qi Yue switched to a slight smile.

“Mother, why don’t we eat first? After the meal, mother can teach me more? Since I’m slow to understand, it wouldn’t be good to delay mother’s meal.” She said with a smile.

“Seeing you like this, I have no appetite.” Madam Xie sighed.

The maids around stood with lowered heads, trying to make themselves invisible.

“Here’s what we’ll do.” Madam Xie said, “Since you have good intentions, I can’t refuse to give you face. Nanny Su.”

She called out.

Nanny Su came in from outside.

“She once served as an etiquette instructress in the palace and is thoroughly familiar with deportment and such. Why don’t you go learn from her?” Madam Xie said to Qi Yue, “Of course, don’t feel troubled by this.”

“Not troubled at all.” Qi Yue said with a smile, walking to Nanny Su. “Then I’ll have to trouble Nanny Su.”

Nanny Su smiled and said she wouldn’t dare, gesturing for Qi Yue to follow as she led her out.

Only then did Madam Xie pick up her chopsticks, with a satisfied smile.

Since you want to pretend, I’ll help you succeed. You delivered yourself to my door.

“Give me that fried golden sparrow.” She said.

A maid quickly served it to her.

When Qi Yue returned to her room, it was already very late.

She collapsed onto the bed face-first.

“What’s wrong?” Chang Yuncheng hurried over to ask, sitting down beside her.

Seeing him sit down, A’Ru quickly led the maids out.

“My face is tired…” Qi Yue said in a muffled voice.

Chang Yuncheng reached out to pull her up.

“Come, let me massage it for you.” He said.

Qi Yue didn’t move.

“Mother is willing to instruct you now—this is her kindness…” Chang Yuncheng said hesitantly.

Qi Yue laughed, turning over to sit up and lean against him.

Chang Yuncheng happily arranged her properly in his arms.

“Don’t worry, I understand. I won’t carelessly show mother a sour face.” Qi Yue said, lifting her head to kiss his stubbled chin. “You know me, I know you—so neither of us feels wronged.”

Chang Yuncheng lowered his head to kiss her lips.

This time there was no storm—just gentle rain and soft wind. It was a long time before Qi Yue suddenly broke away.

Chang Yuncheng, who had been enjoying himself, was displeased at being interrupted and reached out to pull the woman back.

“I forgot to mention—I plan to perform surgery on Yan’er tomorrow. I need to tell her to fast in the morning.” Qi Yue quickly stood up.

“That kind of thing can be handled by a maid.” Chang Yuncheng pulled her back with force, making her fall onto his lap.

Qi Yue pressed against his shoulders.

“No good. This kind of thing would scare everyone, big and small, so they couldn’t sleep. I need to explain it properly to them, otherwise the patient will have too much psychological pressure.” She said.

Chang Yuncheng looked at her and kissed her again.

Just as Qi Yue was about to dodge, Chang Yuncheng had already pulled away and stood up.

“Come on, I’ll go with you.” He said.

Qi Yue smiled, letting him pull her along as they went out.

How many people in the mansion slept well and how many didn’t—no one knew in the layers of night.

Just as dawn was breaking, the gatekeeper heard the sound of carriages and horses at the gate. The marquis’s mansion rarely had such commotion, especially this early.

The gatekeeper yawned and opened the side gate, but froze after one glance.

“…Steward…” The gatekeeper stumbled over his words and ran inside at a trot.

Marquis Dingxi was hastily roused from Concubine Su Mei’s room and listened to the steward’s report through the curtain.

“…Not many people came, just Old Master Liu and the son-in-law.” He said, “I’ve already shown them to the reception hall…”

When he heard no response from inside, he thought of something and added another sentence.

“Since the family just welcomed a young master, I had all of the Liu family’s attendants remain at the gatehouse.” He said.

Meaning only these two father and son had been admitted—alone and definitely safe.

“This old bastard still dares to come! I haven’t even gone to settle accounts with him, and he delivers himself to my door!” Marquis Dingxi said angrily inside, urging Su Mei to quickly help him dress.

Marquis Dingxi arrived at the reception hall and immediately saw the elder seated in the guest position.

This elder was about sixty years old, with a solemn face and dignified posture. His white hair was arranged in a topknot without a strand out of place, and even his hanging beard was perfectly neat—even breathing couldn’t move it a fraction.

Standing beside him was a man who, though standing, had the same expression and dress as if cast from the same mold as the elder.

Old pedant!

Marquis Dingxi cursed silently. In the past, just hearing this in-law’s name gave him a headache, but now with his daughter-in-law backing him up… ahem, no—with dirt on this old bastard, he needn’t worry about meeting him. But actually seeing him still made his heart feel blocked.

These two sour scholars would make even his elegant reception hall smell different.

Marquis Dingxi entered with a stern face.

Old Master Liu rose and performed meticulous courtesies with him. Marquis Dingxi had no choice but to return them meticulously.

Not because he feared this old bastard, but because he couldn’t afford to waste the time.

Otherwise the man would nag about how this didn’t conform to standards, that didn’t follow etiquette, showing disrespect to him meant disrespecting sacred learning, disrespecting Confucius, disrespecting the emperor… and ramble on with all sorts of nonsense.

Better to keep things peaceful.

After the father finished his courtesies, Liu Chengyang began paying respects to his father-in-law.

“Enough, enough. Don’t give me this false politeness.” Marquis Dingxi wasn’t so courteous with the younger generation, glaring and snorting. “If you really want to be polite to me, then treat my daughter and granddaughter well!”

Liu Chengyang said nothing, meticulously completing his courtesies before retreating behind his father.

Though Marquis Dingxi spoke harshly, it felt like punching cotton—not very satisfying.

“The Marquis’s words are mistaken.” Old Master Liu spoke.

With father present, naturally it wasn’t the son’s turn to speak.

“Mistaken how? Surnamed Liu, even a servant woman in your house can bully my daughter! This is what I saw with my own eyes—who knows what happens when I’m not looking!” Marquis Dingxi decided to seize the initiative, speaking loudly with an indignant expression.

“Nothing else—just what the Marquis saw. As for what wasn’t seen, that simply doesn’t exist.” Old Master Liu said solemnly.

“Bah! You think whatever you say goes?” Marquis Dingxi said angrily. “Look at what my daughter wears—she’s dressed worse than a servant!”

Old Master Liu’s expression remained solemn.

“The Liu family are scholars. We don’t farm or engage in labor, living without working, so naturally we must be somewhat frugal.” He said, looking at Marquis Dingxi. “We cannot compare to the marquis’s wealthy household with fine clothes and jade food. It has indeed wronged the young lady.”

Marquis Dingxi’s gaze fell on the father and son, seeing that they were indeed dressed worse than his steward…

Bah! This old bastard did it on purpose!

“Wronged! She’s greatly wronged! Tell me, how have you bullied and neglected my daughter in the past! Don’t think I don’t know!” Marquis Dingxi snorted, not continuing that line of conversation.

Old Master Liu looked at him.

“Chunlan has been married for seven years and returned to her natal home only three times—once after the wedding, once for grandmother’s funeral, and this visit home. I always thought Chunlan was devoted to her family and unwilling to go out. I didn’t realize the Marquis held grievances against my family, causing this situation.” He stood up and bowed to Marquis Dingxi, with Liu Chengyang naturally following suit. “If Chunlan has daily grievances, I as father-in-law am not as perceptive as the Marquis and haven’t heard her speak of them personally. Please tell me, Marquis.”

Marquis Dingxi was left speechless.

Indeed, his daughter had been married seven years and returned three times, and he hadn’t even seen her during those visits. How would he know if she was wronged? Besides, what did her grievances have to do with him…

This damned pedant!

Marquis Dingxi glared at Old Master Liu, who maintained his solemn expression like the portrait of the sacred teacher hanging in the room.

“Liu Pingyun, never mind other grievances—why did you have to separate mother and daughter for no good reason?…” Marquis Dingxi wanted to say Yan’er’s name but realized he didn’t even know what his granddaughter was called, stumbling over his words. “…The child is still so young. Aren’t you trying to drive them to death?”

Old Master Liu looked at him, expression unchanged.

“For no good reason?” He said only these four words.

Marquis Dingxi wanted to slap himself. Why did he always trap himself with his own words in front of this old man? It was all this old man’s fault—just like the tutor grandfather had hired for him long ago.

That tutor always wore a stern face, never punishing or scolding, never hitting with a ruler, not even assigning standing punishment. He would just snort through his nose and look at you with those “you’re worthless” eyes, making you want to shrink into the ground and never face people again.

It left him with lasting trauma—whenever he met such people, his legs would shake, his heart would race and he’d sweat. Usually eloquent and articulate, he would suddenly become this clumsy!

Marquis Dingxi looked at the father and son while Old Master Liu looked back at him.

The room fell silent for a moment.

The steward standing outside had been listening intently. Hearing the Marquis speak loudly, though there were always pauses afterward, at least the Marquis was speaking with confidence. He expected righteous indignation soon, then suddenly heard laughter from the hall.

Laughter…

“…In-law, have you eaten? Coming so early, you probably haven’t… Steward… steward…”

Watching servants guide the Liu father and son to eat, Marquis Dingxi gently wiped his sweat with a handkerchief and turned to see the steward watching him.

“What are you looking at!” He immediately felt his face heating up. “Hurry up and fetch the Young Madam!”

Fetch the Young Madam for what?

In this situation, shouldn’t they call Madam Xie?

Marquis Dingxi also realized his words were rather… odd.

“This old man will definitely argue unreasonably again! Isn’t the Young Madam a doctor? Have her explain things—let’s see what that old man has to say then!” He glared.

Understood! So this in-law was being unreasonable and the Marquis couldn’t out-argue him!

The steward agreed and hurried off.

“Quick, quick, release the Young Madam…” He called out, then slapped his own mouth. “…Quick, invite the Young Madam…”