Madam Xie opened the memorial and was stunned after one glance.

When Madam Xie took the memorial, Marquis Dingxi took several deep breaths to calm himself down. Just as he had calmed down, seeing Madam Xie’s expression made him panic again.

“What does it say?” he couldn’t help asking. “Approved or not approved?”

Madam Xie looked at the memorial with a strange expression.

“I don’t know…” she said, handing the memorial to him. “Marquis, you look. Is it approved or not?”

What do you mean you don’t know? Are you illiterate?

Marquis Dingxi frowned and grabbed it, then he was also stunned.

The vermillion characters were very prominent on the memorial. The Emperor always kept his responses to memorials concise and clear. Once there was a censor who wrote dozens of pages eloquently describing how terrible something was, how it shouldn’t be promoted, how it would bring disaster to the country and people. After reading it, the Emperor only replied with one character: “Scram,” concise, clear, refreshing, and sharp. So that censor scurmed.

Emperor Yu Qing was different from his grandfather and father, the two previous emperors. Perhaps because he was third generation, compared to the founding emperor who came from humble origins and Emperor Taizong who had fought alongside the founding emperor, this Emperor had a somewhat eccentric temperament and was moody.

So Marquis Dingxi was very anxious.

Of course, this time the Emperor’s reply to Marquis Dingxi’s memorial wasn’t the single word “scram,” but several words.

“Matters between husband and wife—if the couple agrees, what business is it of mine?”

Marquis Dingxi read it aloud, then looked at Madam Xie after finishing.

“Is this approval or disapproval?” he also asked.

Useless fool! Madam Xie cursed in her heart.

The couple studied it all night and finally understood what the Emperor meant.

“The Emperor means this is a matter between us husband and wife. If we’re willing, he won’t interfere,” Madam Xie said.

Marquis Dingxi wore a mocking expression.

“You’re so stupid. What do you mean ‘us husband and wife’? Am I the one taking a wife?” he said, while muttering, “Actually, I wouldn’t mind taking another one…”

Madam Xie was furious and laughed coldly.

“You’d need to have that fortune,” she said. If you’re capable, you should also leave home for three years. If you’re capable, you should also fight real battles with the Eastern slaves in the bitter cold of the northern desert. If you’re capable, you should also bear seven or eight sword and arrow wounds on your body. Thinking of this, Madam Xie couldn’t help crying.

My son… you’ve suffered…

“What are you crying for? This is a happy occasion,” Marquis Dingxi said inexplicably. “Women’s tears are worthless.”

“I don’t have a heart of stone like you!” Madam Xie replied through her tears.

Marquis Dingxi was too lazy to argue with a woman whose mind wasn’t clear. He sat to one side looking at the memorial, occasionally chuckling.

This was the Emperor giving him face, showing that in the Emperor’s eyes, he was still considered one of his own people, willing to manage his household affairs…

“Go, call the couple over and ask them,” he said proudly.

Madam Xie laughed coldly.

“Ask? Ask what?” she said. “For such matters, why ask them? Our Chang family taking wives and concubines, expanding the bloodline, is natural and right. What, they could still disagree? What would that make them?”

Marquis Dingxi thought this made sense. Speaking of which, his descendants were truly sparse. His son had achievements and accomplishments—it was time to raise more children.

“However, what about that girl from the Rao family in Shandong? Since the Emperor has spoken, why don’t we make it public? Perhaps even better families would be willing to marry into our family,” he said in a low voice with a smile.

Just based on the Emperor personally approving this memorial, what great face this was! When the time came, who knew how many families would compete to marry into his family. Why give such an advantage only to the Rao family?

Madam Xie immediately knew what Marquis Dingxi was planning.

“Marquis, I can’t do such heartless and ungrateful things!” she stood up and said. “That good young lady was willing to wait when we hadn’t yet decided whether it would work out, not afraid of delaying herself. The Rao family also put aside their dignity. Now that it’s successful, you want to turn your back on them—what kind of behavior is that! If word gets out, how will our Yuncheng face people!”

Marquis Dingxi said nothing, still pondering.

“Besides, do you really think this success depends only on us?” Madam Xie snorted. “If it weren’t for Second Madam asking Imperial Concubine Dong…”

Hearing this, Marquis Dingxi couldn’t help but interrupt.

“It wasn’t entirely her—I also sent a basket of taro to Her Majesty the Empress…” he said.

Madam Xie glared angrily. Marquis Dingxi also felt his taro couldn’t compare to Imperial Concubine Dong’s favor, so he laughed awkwardly and said nothing more.

“Why would Imperial Concubine Dong help? Isn’t it out of respect for the Shandong Rao family? Now that we’ve succeeded, we want to cross the river and tear down the bridge. I guarantee that before those families come competing to marry into our family, the Emperor will find some reason to scold us!” Madam Xie said angrily.

Marquis Dingxi sighed. What a pity—such a glorious matter couldn’t be publicized. Was there anything more frustrating in the world than wearing fine clothes at night?

“Then I don’t care. You handle it,” he said listlessly, waving his hand and yawning. Not sleeping well all night really wouldn’t do. Thinking of the new little maid in his study, tender and fresh, his heart itched.

He got up and left.

“Concubine Liu has invited you several times. You should visit her too,” Madam Xie was in a good mood and did a favor in passing.

Marquis Dingxi made some vague sounds, who knew if he heard or not, and left.

Madam Xie didn’t care anymore, happily touching the memorial.

“Go tell Second Madam,” she said, then stood up. “No, I’ll go myself.”

After walking a few steps, she thought again, “Or should I call Yuncheng first, tell him so he can be happy too?”

Nanny Su helped her put on her cloak.

“Madam, one before the other, it’s only about an hour’s difference,” she smiled.

Madam Xie also smiled.

“I’m so flustered I can’t stand it,” she said, pressing her hand to her chest with a smile. “This is my first time marrying off a daughter-in-law, and I don’t know what to do. Nanny Su, you must help me.”

She grabbed Nanny Su’s hand and said.

“When the time comes, as long as Madam speaks up, there will be plenty of people to help. I might not even be able to help much,” Nanny Su smiled.

Madam Xie also smiled. The two left one after the other, heading straight to Second Madam’s place.

Here, Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue were about to have breakfast, and they were having it in their room rather than going to the dining hall.

The maids kept their heads down as they set out the food. The lingering intimacy in the air after their passion made them all blush, and they hurriedly escaped.

“Eat this,” Qi Yue said.

Chang Yuncheng immediately picked up a piece of fried pastry and handed it over, placing it in Qi Yue’s open mouth.

“What else do you want to eat?” he asked.

“I’m done eating,” Qi Yue leaned back against the cushions, saying lazily.

“You’ve only eaten this little,” Chang Yuncheng frowned, moving from across to sit beside her and reaching out to pull her. “Get up quickly, eat some more.”

Qi Yue wouldn’t get up.

“I’m exhausted, can’t eat anymore,” she glared at him.

Chang Yuncheng laughed, put down his chopsticks, and grabbed her feet.

“I’ll massage them for you,” he said in a low voice, his hands moving up from her calves.

Qi Yue kicked at him. Chang Yuncheng laughed heartily and pulled her into his arms.

“I’ve tired you out, I’ll feed you until you’re full,” he laughed softly in her ear.

Qi Yue was stimulated by his voice and words, her body going soft. She reached out and pinched his waist hard.

Chang Yuncheng ignored it, picking up food to feed her. Qi Yue had no choice but to eat bite by bite.

This meal lasted nearly half an hour.

After eating, Qi Yue wanted to read. Chang Yuncheng came over again.

“Hey, aren’t you going out for a walk?” Qi Yue asked.

“Do you want to go out?” Chang Yuncheng asked, nuzzling her hair repeatedly. It was strange how everything about her was fragrant.

Qi Yue shook her head and pushed him away.

“Don’t always follow me around. Go out and play,” she said.

Chang Yuncheng’s face fell, and he vengefully pressed her into his arms.

“I have to go to Qianjin Hall in a while. I’m giving a lecture today,” Qi Yue said again, trying to break free from his embrace.

Really, how could such a grown man be so clingy like a child? He wasn’t like this before.

“I’ll go too,” Chang Yuncheng said, getting up with her.

Qi Yue shook her head and sighed.

“Chang Yuncheng, how old are you…” she said.

Chang Yuncheng reached out to pull her over and looked down at her.

“I’m about to leave, Yueniang…” he said with deep eyes.

Qi Yue immediately raised her hands in surrender. Fine, fine, she had no resistance to children…

She reached out to hug Chang Yuncheng’s neck, smiled and stood on tiptoe to kiss his chin.

Chang Yuncheng immediately picked her up.

“Hey, there are many ways I can accompany you, not just that,” Qi Yue said, pressing on his shoulders and looking down at the man’s face with a smile.

“What else can we do?” Chang Yuncheng said, reaching out to squeeze her soft bottom.

Qi Yue just laughed and patted him.

“Like I could accompany you playing the qin, or we could go shopping, or go out to eat, or go hiking and have a picnic,” she smiled, lowering her head to bite the man’s nose. “Who spends all their time rolling around in bed…”

Rolling around in bed?

Chang Yuncheng laughed heartily and bit the woman’s small soft chin.

“Good, I still have time at home. We’ll do them one by one,” he smiled. “So shall we go play the qin now?”

“You play the qin, I’ll read!” Qi Yue said with squinted eyes and a smile.

Chang Yuncheng hugged her tightly.

“No way,” he said with domineering authority that brooked no refusal, putting her down and pulling her toward the study.

Qi Yue smiled and let him pull her. The two left the room and had just walked out of the courtyard when they saw two maids coming over.

“Lord,” they stopped, curtsied, and kept their heads down while their eyes glanced at Chang Yuncheng and Qi Yue’s clasped hands.

They only greeted the Lord and didn’t curtsy to the Young Madam. Needless to say, these were definitely maids from Madam Xie’s side.

Chang Yuncheng released her hand.

Qi Yue glanced at him, pursed her lips in a smile, and stepped back without saying anything.

“Madam asks you to come over for a moment,” the maid said.

Chang Yuncheng made a sound of acknowledgment and looked back at Qi Yue.

“Go ahead,” Qi Yue grinned. “I was just about to go out…”

Chang Yuncheng’s face immediately fell.

Qi Yue pursed her lips, poked him, and pushed him.

“I’m teasing you, silly. I’ll wait for you in the study,” she smiled.

Only then did Chang Yuncheng smile and follow the two maids, frequently looking back. Seeing that woman indeed walking toward the study, he looked back and Qi Yue also looked back. At first she smiled at him with her hand covering her mouth, then when they were farther apart, he couldn’t see her smile clearly, only saw the woman waving at him.

The two maids leading the way exchanged glances, both seeing shock and confusion in each other’s eyes.

This… this… how did this seem like reluctant parting?

But they were at home—what was there to be reluctant about?

Chang Yuncheng walked with a smile all the way to Madam Xie’s door, composing his expression before entering.

A maid called out that the Lord had arrived and lifted the curtain.